Indian diplomat formally charged with spying

NEW DEHLI: Indian diplomat Madhuri Gupta, arrested three months ago on allegations of spying for Pakistan, was charged on Tuesday under the official secrets act, police said.

Gupta, who had been working in the Indian embassy in Islamabad prior to her arrest, was booked under three sections of the act, Deputy Police Commissioner Shibesh Singh told wire service AFP.

Gupta, 53, was employed in the embassy’s information service. She was called back to New Delhi in April on the pretext of consultations only to be arrested by police.

Her lawyer, Joginder Dahiya, confirmed that charges had been filed in court.

“When I get the [charge sheet] copy tomorrow morning I will be able to comment. At the moment I have no details,” Dahiya said.

Depending on the precise nature of the charges, Gupta could face a prison sentence of anywhere between three and 14 years if convicted.

Gupta, who was present in court, denied all the charges against her.

According to Indian police, Gupta had been under surveillance for six months before she was taken into custody.

Suspicion had been aroused by the “extraordinary interest” she started taking in subjects unrelated to her assignment.

Gupta had worked in the Indian mission for nearly three years and according to news agency ANI she is alleged to have passed on information received from a RAW official in the embassy to her Pakistani contact.

Her handlers were allegedly members of the ISI.

As a second secretary, Gupta ranked low in the diplomatic hierarchy, senior only to the entry-level third secretary, and Indian government officials said it was unlikely she could have passed on any top secret information.

“The position occupied by the official did not involve access to highly classified material,” junior state minister Preneet Kaur told parliament after her arrest.

Soon after the arrest, Gupta’s lawyer had insisted that her client was being framed and said police had failed to provide any evidence against her.

A Delhi court had refused Dahiya’s arguments for bail, saying the alleged crimes were “too grave” in nature.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 21st, 2010.