A special NIA Court in Visakhapatnam has sentenced Mohammad Haroon Haji Abdul Rehman Lakdawala (Mumbai) to 5.5 years and Imran Yakub Giteli (Godhra, Gujarat) to 6 years in jail in the high-profile Indian Navy spying case. Both were convicted under Sections 17 and 18 of the UAPA, highlighting the serious threat to national security.
The case, taken over by the NIA in December 2019, uncovered a sophisticated espionage network allegedly orchestrated by Pakistani intelligence agencies, compromising sensitive data from naval bases in Visakhapatnam, Karwar, and Kochi. So far, four individuals have been convicted and 15 accused—including 11 Indian Navy personnel—have been arrested.
The operatives used honey-traps, fake social media profiles, and illegal cross-border funding to recruit agents and collect sensitive defense information, which was shared with handlers via platforms like WhatsApp. Lakdawala and Giteli were instrumental in funneling money to recruited naval personnel and civilian agents through illegal trade channels.
Both were arrested in May and September 2020 respectively and confirmed as foreign intelligence agents, posing a direct threat to India’s sovereignty. The NIA continues to pursue the remaining accused, including Pakistani operatives who orchestrated the racket.