Crypto Trail Exposes Defence Ministry Clerk Vikas Yadav as Spy for Pakistan
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 26th June: A two-year-long intelligence operation has led to the arrest of Vikas Yadav, an Upper Division Clerk posted at Nau Sena Bhavan, the naval wing of the Ministry of Defence, for allegedly spying for Pakistan. Yadav, who was addicted to online gaming, was reportedly honey-trapped by a Pakistani agent posing as a woman named ‘Priya Sharma’, sources revealed on Friday.
The arrest marks a significant breakthrough in counter-espionage efforts, with investigators confirming that Yadav had been leaking sensitive naval documents to his handler in exchange for payments made through cryptocurrency channels.
Crypto Link Led to Arrest
Yadav’s name surfaced during the investigation into a separate 2022 espionage case involving Ravi Prakash Meena, a Rajasthan resident and Class IV employee in Sena Bhawan. Meena was arrested after it was discovered that he had passed on confidential documents, including maps, to Pakistan in exchange for crypto payments.
When intelligence agencies monitored Meena’s cryptocurrency trail, they found it led to two more individuals — one of whom was Vikas Yadav. Surveillance confirmed that Yadav had also been receiving funds from the same cryptocurrency wallet, triggering a deep surveillance operation lasting over two years.
Yadav, intelligence officials confirmed, used these funds to fuel his online gaming addiction, while continuing to leak classified information via Telegram and WhatsApp to his Pakistani handler.
‘Priya Sharma’: A Familiar Trap
Officials believe the person behind the name ‘Priya Sharma’ is a trained Pakistani intelligence operative, who befriended Yadav on Facebook three years ago, exploiting his gaming obsession. Over time, their communication shifted to more encrypted platforms, and she became his handler.
The modus operandi used in this case mirrors a familiar pattern — targeting lower-level clerical staff within the Defence Ministry, luring them with money or romantic attention, and then using them to access sensitive documents.
Yadav is suspected to have been scanning and transmitting naval documents, some potentially linked to Operation Sindoor, India’s recent retaliatory strikes against terror infrastructure across the border. Authorities are now closely examining whether any of the leaks from Yadav compromised that mission.
Four Days in Custody, Phone Sent for Forensics
Yadav has been remanded to four-day custody as investigators probe the full extent of his activities. His mobile phone has been sent to a forensic laboratory, and officials are reviewing every form of digital communication and transaction linked to his accounts.
“Initial findings suggest he may have leaked operational-level information that could have strategic implications,” an official stated, requesting anonymity.
Pattern of Clerical Infiltration
This incident adds to a growing list of espionage cases where clerical and support staff in defence establishments have been targeted by Pakistan’s spy network. Experts say it underscores a critical need for tighter screening, digital hygiene education, and financial monitoring of even lower-tier government employees.
The investigation continues, with more arrests likely as surveillance expands around the cryptocurrency network used to fund these espionage operations.
