The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday filed a charge sheet in a Chennai court in a case of alleged espionage and attempts to carry out sabotage activities in India at the instigation of Pakistan.
The chargesheet was filed at an NIA court against Thameem Ansari, a suspected operative of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), now on bail and a Sri Lankan national, Arun Selvarajan, besides three others who are their handlers in Pakistan and suspected to be based in Sri Lanka.
"The offences against the accused include those under Unlawful Activities [Prevention] Act, IPC and Official Secrets Act," Public Prosecutor for NIA cases, CSS Pillai told PTI.
Also, Arun Selvarajan faces charges under the Passport Act for violations and Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act for possession of ganja, he added.
Tagged as "Thammeem Ansari case" by the NIA, Arun Selvarajan was arrested as part of this case in September last for his alleged involvement in espionage activities at the instigation of Pakistan, the NIA had said at the time of his arrest.
The chargesheet was filed on Friday, the 175th day from the date of arrest of Arun Selvarajan just ahead of the expiry of 180 day deadline for its filing.
The chargesheet, which runs into 4010 pages, details how the duo were indulged in espionage activities, did conspiracy and attempted to plan and carry out sabotage at the behest of Pakistan and how they accessed sensitive installations.
Among other places, the accused visited port premises in Chennai, Nagapattinam, Mallipattinam, and witnessed an Indo-Japan joint coast guard exercise.
A preliminary chargesheet was filed by the NIA in October last against Zahir Hussain, Siva Balan and Mohammed Saleem in another case involving ISI spy modules.
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