Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer Madhuri Gupta (C) is escorted after making an appearance at Tis Hazari Court in New Delhi on May 1, 2010. — AFP Photo
NEW DELHI A junior Indian diplomat arrested for allegedly spying for Pakistan was charged Tuesday under the official secrets act, police said.

Madhuri Gupta, who had been working in the Indian embassy in Islamabad prior to her arrest, was booked under three sections of the act, Deputy Police Commissioner Shibesh Singh told AFP.

Gupta, 53, worked in the embassys information service. She was called back to New Delhi in April on the pretext of consultations before police swooped on her at home.

Her lawyer, Joginder Dasiya, confirmed that charges had been filed in court.

“When I get the copy tomorrow morning (of the police charges) I will be able to comment. At the moment I have no details,” Dasiya said.

Depending on the precise nature of the charges, Gupta could face a prison sentence of anywhere between three and 14 years if convicted.

According to Indian police, Gupta had been under surveillance for six months before she was taken into custody.
She had worked in the Indian mission for nearly three years and news reports said she was alleged to have passed on information from the Islamabad head of Indias external intelligence service.

Former diplomats said Gupta would in theory have had limited access in her role in the information wing.
As a second secretary, she ranked low in the diplomatic hierarchy, senior only to the entry-level third secretary.

Pakistan had played down the scandal, which broke just days before the prime ministers of India and Pakistan met for talks at a South Asian leadership summit in Bhutan.

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.

A Delhi court had refused Dahiya's arguments for bail, saying the alleged crimes were “too grave” in nature.


Opinion

Editorial

Going dry
07 Apr, 2025

Going dry

PAKISTAN is a water-stressed country and tens of millions remain water-insecure, forcing large communities to ...
Afghan return
07 Apr, 2025

Afghan return

AS expected, the government of Pakistan is moving ahead with its plan to forcibly repatriate Afghan Citizenship Card...
Hurting women
07 Apr, 2025

Hurting women

MONTH after month, the figures of crimes against women in the country indicate that our society is close to...
Not cricket
Updated 06 Apr, 2025

Not cricket

It is high time that the PCB sets things right; even if it demands a complete overhaul of the system.
Balochistan deadlock
Updated 06 Apr, 2025

Balochistan deadlock

Akhtar Mengal’s demands to release women activists should seriously be considered.
Escalating brutality
Updated 06 Apr, 2025

Escalating brutality

The world’s patience is running out. Israel must be held accountable under international law for war crimes.