Former Indian Army officer ‘based in Canada’ arrested for allegedly spying

New Delhi (IANS): A former Indian Army officer, who is now based in Canada, has been arrested on suspicion of spying for foreign agencies, police said on Saturday. The man was taken into custody on Friday night.

Confirming his arrest, Delhi Cantonment Police Station House Officer Inspector Sameer Srivastava told IANS: “It is difficult to say much right now. The suspect is being questioned by several agencies. Nothing concrete has come out as yet.”

Highly placed Delhi Police sources told IANS, “The Intelligence agencies and the Indian Army have also been alerted on the case. The Delhi Police is planning a joint probe with them into the case.”

[According to another news agency, ANI, retired Indian Army officer Mukesh Chopra, 64, was arrested in an alleged case of theft, police sources told the agency on Saturday. He was reportedly jointly questioned by the Intelligence Bureau, Military Intelligence and Delhi Police’s Special Cell after some objectionable materials, military-related cards, etc., were recovered from his possession. But there was no mention of Canada in the news report.]

[Another news outlet, India Today, reported that police said “Mukesh Arora” entered the Manekshaw library saying he was a colonel. When he was leaving after allegedly stealing eight books, Army officers arrested him and handed him over to the police. He reportedly told police that he holds dual citizenship of the US and Canada, and lives in Delhi’s Vasant Kunj area. He was allegedly expelled from the Army for misconduct.]