Satendra Siwal, a resident of Shahmahiuddinpur village in Hapur, found himself in the limelight after being arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on suspicion of spying for Pakistan's intelligence agency, the ISI.
Siwal, who had been working as an India-based security assistant at the Indian embassy in Moscow since 2021, allegedly fell prey to ISI handlers seeking confidential information. The arrest came after the UP ATS received credible intelligence suggesting that ISI was enticing employees of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs with monetary incentives. He is suspected of passing sensitive information about defence and foreign affairs to ISI handlers, thus posing a threat to India's internal and external security. This person had been under surveillance for the last six months and was arrested after taking leave from the embassy. His bank accounts are being examined, and his mobile phone was seized to gather more information about his associates.
The suspect failed to provide satisfactory answers during interrogation at the Meerut ATS Field Unit, leading to a confession of spying for the ISI. Through electronic and physical surveillance, the ATS investigation uncovered the suspect's involvement in anti-India activities with the ISI handler's network. He is facing charges under Section 121A of the IPC (waging war against the country) and the Official Secrets Act 1923, highlighting the serious nature of the allegations against him.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is working together with investigative authorities in this matter.