Indian diplomat may get 14 year term over 'spying for Pakistan'

Published February 9, 2016
The former IFS officer allegedly revealed certain classified information to Pakistani intelligence officials. ─AFP/File
The former IFS officer allegedly revealed certain classified information to Pakistani intelligence officials. ─AFP/File

NEW DELHI: Former Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer Madhuri Gupta, facing legal action over allegedly spying for Pakistan, will be charged under India's Official Secrets Act and can face imprisonment up to 14 years, the Delhi High Court ordered on Tuesday.

According to Indian News Agency IANS, the Delhi High Court Judge Pratibha Rani maintained that evidence placed by the police against Gupta was "prima facie sufficient" to frame a charge against her under a more stringent section of India's Official Secrets Act, which attracts maximum punishment of 14 years.

Gupta, 56, worked in the Indian embassy's information service. She was called back to New Delhi in April 2010 on the pretext of consultations before police swooped on her at home.

She was arrested for providing sensitive information to Pakistan's top intelligence agency, the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI). Soon after the arrest, Gupta's lawyer had insisted that her client was being framed and said police had failed to provide any evidence against her.

Related: Indian diplomat Madhuri Gupta charged with spying

Police Advocate Rajesh Mahajan had told the high court that the information which the former diplomat passed on to the ISI was related to the security and defence of the nation.

As per the charge-sheet filed in July 2010, Gupta was involved in a relationship with an alleged ISI official Jamshed, whom she planned to marry.

Gupta is not the first Indian diplomat to have been accused of spying for Pakistani agencies. In the 1980s, an Indian military attaché posted in Islamabad faced a similar charge. The military official was sent back but wasn't tried for espionage.

Related: Indian agents were trailing Madhuri Gupta for months

Opinion

Editorial

Islamabad protest
Updated 20 Nov, 2024

Islamabad protest

As Nov 24 draws nearer, both the PTI and the Islamabad administration must remain wary and keep within the limits of reason and the law.
PIA uncertainty
20 Nov, 2024

PIA uncertainty

THE failed attempt to privatise the national flag carrier late last month has led to a fierce debate around the...
T20 disappointment
20 Nov, 2024

T20 disappointment

AFTER experiencing the historic high of the One-day International series triumph against Australia, Pakistan came...
Tribunals’ failure
Updated 19 Nov, 2024

Tribunals’ failure

With election tribunals having failed to fulfil their purpose, it isn't surprising that Pakistan has not been able to stabilise.
Balochistan MPC
19 Nov, 2024

Balochistan MPC

WHILE immediate threats to law and order must be confronted by security forces, the long-term solution to...
Firm tax measures
19 Nov, 2024

Firm tax measures

FINANCE Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb is ready to employ force to make everyone and every sector in Pakistan pay their...