Guwahati, Mar 23: A civilian staff member of the Indian Air Force has been arrested from the Chabua Air Force Station in Assam’s Dibrugarh district for allegedly spying and passing sensitive defence information to Pakistan, officials said.
Chabua Air Force Station is a strategically important Indian Air Force base in eastern India, playing a key role in safeguarding the country’s northeastern and Himalayan frontiers.
The arrest, carried out in a joint operation by Rajasthan Intelligence and Air Force Intelligence, has exposed what investigators believe could be a wider Pakistan-linked espionage network operating across India.
According to officials, the case traces back to January 2026, when Rajasthan Intelligence detained one Jhabara Ram from Jaisalmer. During interrogation, Ram allegedly revealed links to another suspect in regular contact with Pakistani intelligence agencies, leading investigators to Sumit Kumar.
Sumit Kumar (36), a native of Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh, was working as a Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS) at the Air Force Station in Chabua.
Investigators allege that he exploited his position to access and transmit confidential military information to Pakistani handlers through social media platforms.
In a coordinated operation, Kumar was detained in Chabua and taken to Jaipur for further questioning.
“The accused had been in contact with Pakistani intelligence since 2023 and was sharing sensitive information in exchange for money,” a senior official said.
During interrogation, Kumar allegedly disclosed critical details related to Air Force installations, including Chabua in Assam and the Nal Air Force Station in Bikaner. The leaked information is said to include locations of fighter aircraft and missile systems, as well as confidential details about Air Force personnel.
Investigators further found that Kumar allegedly assisted Pakistani handlers by creating social media accounts using mobile numbers registered in his name.
He was formally arrested on March 22 in a case registered at the Special Police Station in Jaipur under provisions of the Official Secrets Act, 1923, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
Officials said the case points to a larger espionage network with possible cross-border links, and further investigations are underway to identify other operatives.
