Mumbai: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a chargesheet against Amaan Salim Shaikh, a key figure in the Visakhapatnam espionage case, involving the leakage of classified defense information through a Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) spying network. Shaikh, a resident of Mumbai, Maharashtra, was formally charged in the NIA Special Court, Visakhapatnam, under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act [UA(P) Act].

Shaikh is a crucial suspect in the conspiracy orchestrated by Pakistani agents to honey trap Indian Navy personnel and extract sensitive information about India's defense establishments. The investigation by the NIA revealed that Shaikh played a significant role in this espionage network, operating under the direction of a suspected Pakistani agent named Usman.

Additionally, Shaikh allegedly received funds from other suspected Pakistani operatives, including Meer Balaj Khan and Alven, along with several other individuals, through cryptocurrency channels. These funds were purportedly used to execute tasks assigned by the Pakistani intelligence operatives.

The NIA assumed control of the investigation from the Counter Intelligence Cell, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, on June 5, 2023. Previously, on November 6, 2023, the NIA had chargesheeted two other individuals in connection with this case. Further investigations are ongoing.

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