Pakistan High Commission staffer, briefly detained for espionage, asked to leave India in 48 hours

New Delhi: The Delhi Police’s Crime Branch on Thursday detained a Pakistan High Commission staffer in a case of espionage.
Mehmood Akhtar, 35, who was found in possession of defence documents, was later released after questioning because of diplomatic immunity.
Also, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar  has informed Pakistan High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit, who was summoned by the Ministry of External Affairs, that Akhtar has been declared persona non grata for espionage activities.
Two more have been arrested on espionage charges, police said.
The duo are the residents of Rajasthan and have been arrested for allegedly passing on sensitive information to the staffer.
“The spies are residents of Rajasthan working for Pakistan’s ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence). The spies were in touch with the staff here at Pakistan High Commission and were providing sensitive information,” said a senior police officer.
The arrests were made late Wednesday night by following a tip-off from the Intelligence Bureau.
Those arrested have been identified as Maulana Ramzan and Subhash Jangir.
According to a report, crime branch officials have briefed Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung on the matter.
This is not the first time that employees of the Pakistan High Commission have come under the radar over alleged espionage in India.
Last years, police claimed to have busted an ISI spy ring in the high commission and five persons were arrested.