Ghaziabad Police Expand Espionage Probe with Three More Arrests
In a significant development in an ongoing espionage investigation, Ghaziabad police have taken three more persons into custody, including a minor, for their alleged involvement in a network that filmed railway stations and government offices in Delhi-NCR and Mumbai. The sensitive material was reportedly passed to handlers based in Pakistan. With these latest arrests, the total number of suspects detained has risen to 18, which includes six minors.
Details of the Newly Arrested Accused
The individuals apprehended on Sunday have been identified as Naushad Ali, a 20-year-old originally from Muzaffarpur in Bihar who currently resides in Faridabad; Meera, a 28-year-old from Mathura; and a 17-year-old boy whose identity has not been disclosed due to his minor status. This action follows earlier arrests on March 14, when six persons were initially held, and subsequent detentions as police widened the investigation. A special investigation team has been formed on the chief minister's order to oversee the case.
Recruitment and Roles Within the Network
According to Dhawal Jaiswal, DCP (city), Naushad Ali came into contact with the key recruiter, Sardar alias Jora Singh, through social media approximately two years ago. A Class 5 dropout facing financial difficulties, Naushad allegedly joined the group and began recruiting others. His primary role was to identify and bring in young people with technical skills, such as mobile repair, computer work, and CCTV handling, particularly from impoverished backgrounds, by offering them monetary incentives.
"During the investigation, we discovered more than 10 social media groups linked to Naushad, each comprising 70 to 80 members. So far, we believe he recruited around 15 individuals. Efforts are ongoing to trace them," Jaiswal stated.
Meera's Criminal Background and Involvement
Police revealed that Meera's role within the network was to recruit women. Investigators found more than five social media groups allegedly created by her, through which she had been in contact with over 10 women in attempts to persuade them to join. Piyush Kumar Singh, ADCP (crime), noted that Meera has a criminal background, having been previously involved in arms smuggling.
"Apart from recruiting people, she was also supplying weapons," Singh explained. Meera was arrested by Mumbai police in 2024 along with four others and more than six firearms, and again by Delhi Police in July 2025 with six additional individuals.
Further Insights into Meera's Activities
A senior officer provided additional context, stating that Meera had separated from her husband and later married Rahul, only to discover that he was actually Shamsul Khan, an alleged arms and fake currency trafficker from Firozabad in Uttar Pradesh. Instead of leaving him, she became part of the illegal trade in hopes of making quick money.
"On July 24, she was arrested from her Mathura residence, where five live .32 bore cartridges were recovered. Based on information provided by her, Khan was also arrested, leading to the seizure of three semi-automatic guns and counterfeit Rs 500 notes with a face value of Rs 4.1 lakh from his hideout," the officer added.
Operational Methods and Key Figures
Police had earlier identified Naushad Ali, Sameer, and Sohail as key operatives in the network. These three, along with Mehak, who was arrested earlier, and Meera, were in direct contact with Sardar, while other members allegedly acted on instructions relayed through WhatsApp groups.
Espionage Activities and Surveillance Setup
According to police reports, the accused installed solar-powered, SIM-based standalone CCTV cameras at Delhi Cantt and Sonipat railway stations, sharing the live feed with a Pakistani number. One camera was removed from Delhi Cantt on March 14 and another from Sonipat on March 18.
The devices were allegedly fixed approximately 20 feet high on platform poles to capture three to four platforms as well as the movement of trains. Police disclosed that there was also a plan to install similar cameras at 50 additional locations from Delhi to Kashmir to gather sensitive military information.
Financial Incentives and Communication
"They received instructions through a specific number and were paid for each task. Prima facie, they were paid Rs 5,000 or more per assignment. Chats contained photographs of several locations in Delhi-NCR, though some had been deleted," the officer said, highlighting the financial motivations behind the espionage activities.
This case underscores the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat cross-border espionage networks and protect national security infrastructure from unauthorized surveillance.
