Mumbai: Military Intelligence (MI) department has submitted a detailed report to the Army Command Headquarters following a week-long probe into four Indian Army jawans from Nashik’s Deolali Camp, who were allegedly involvement in an espionage case linked to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
According to sources, the investigation has revealed that three of the four accused soldiers were directly associated with an ISI-backed cross-border drug syndicate and its handlers. This shadowy network is known for smuggling narcotics into India using drones or physically throwing packets across the border, which are then retrieved by local couriers, commonly referred to as ‘pandhis’ (smugglers). These jawans allegedly escorted these couriers, shielding them from Border Security Force (BSF) patrols, and providing safe passage for the contraband in exchange for hefty payments.
Investigators have revealed that the cross-border drug syndicate recruited these soldiers for ISI operatives to secretly provide sensitive military details to ISI in exchange for financial incentives. As part of their strategy, ISI operatives offered Indian drug syndicates and smugglers heavy discounts on opium consignments to lure soldiers, officers, and security personnel into espionage activities.
During the investigation its revealed that Rajbir Singh, the central figure in the racket, is suspected of being an ISI mole. Initially involved in drug smuggling, he later became an informant for the Pakistani intelligence agency. Singh remains at large, actively evading security agencies. Meanwhile, two other accused jawans, Amritpal Singh and Sandeep Singh, are in the custody of Punjab Police. The fourth soldier, Guruprakash Singh, is not directly linked to espionage but was found to have unknowingly shared sensitive details with the other accused.
All four accused hail from Punjab’s Tarn Taran and Patiala districts and were posted at the Deolali Camp, a key military training establishment in Nashik. Holding ranks of Sipahi (Sepoy), Naik, and Havildar, they allegedly exploited their official leave periods to facilitate the smuggling operation. Sources indicate that an Indian Army jawan is entitled to 90 days of annual leave—60 days of annual leave and 30 days of casual leave. During these periods, the accused jawans coordinated their visits home with the syndicate’s operations, maintaining close contact with pandhis, cross-border drug suppliers, and ISI handlers and playing a key role in drug trafficking.
Upon returning to Deolali, they smuggled contraband back to designated drop points, earning substantial sums per delivery based on the consignment’s size and sensitivity.
The investigation further exposed that the accused soldiers did not limit their activities to drug smuggling; they also leaked sensitive military intelligence to ISI operatives. The classified details included information on army movements, ammunition stocks details, and unit locations. In return, the ISI-linked Pakistani drug cartel made direct cash payments to their families.
During interrogations and forensic analysis of their mobile phones, security agencies discovered that the accused soldiers were in direct communication with an ISI agent, to whom they had transmitted critical details about Indian military assets. Investigators have also identified several cross-border individuals, including ISI operatives, involved in the espionage ring. Several identified contact numbers was initially registered in India but is now inactive.
The espionage network is believed to have been operational for at least two years.
Amritpal Singh, a serving Army constable from Chamba Kalan village in Tarn Taran, was arrested by Amritsar Rural Police nearly two weeks ago along with two civilians—Mandeep Singh (alias Maddy) and Madhav Sharma from Rajasthan. The police recovered 500 grams of heroin, Rs 10 lakh in cash, a cash counting machine, and a .30 bore pistol during the operation.
During interrogation, Amritpal Singh reportedly disclosed information about Sandeep Singh, another Army constable who had arrived in Patiala on leave. Following this revelation, Rajbir Singh, identified as the alleged mastermind behind the espionage operation, went underground to evade arrest.
Agencies have now intensified the search for Rajbir Singh. Investigating authorities suspect that Rajbir may have recruited other soldiers into the espionage network, information about whom is currently unknown to them.
