Police said Ishwar Chandra Behera was passing on information about missile activities conducted at a unit of India's Defence Research & Development Organisation, where he worked as a cameraman.
"He was providing vital information related to missile tests and other military activities to an ISI agent for the past 8-10 months," Odisha's inspector general of police A K Panigrahi told Reuters. "He confessed that he had met an ISI agent in Kolkata a number of times."
India accuses elements in Pakistan's army and ISI of shielding or working with militant groups, which Islamabad denies.
Tensions between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan, which are also at odds over the disputed region of Kashmir, have risen since Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called off peace talks in August.
Troops on both sides have exchanged fire across the border in recent months.
RELATED: Pakistan, India exchange fire along Working Boundary
Police said they found a substantial amount of money had been transferred to Behera's bank account from several places including Abu Dhabi and Mumbai. They are investigating if he was assisted by anyone else.
"We had information that his activities are suspicious and he should be watched ... He confessed he is in touch with the ISI agent and is passing on very vital information," Panigrahi said.
Reuters could not contact Behera, who is in custody.
India has stepped up security, especially in the capital New Delhi, in preparation for a three-day visit by US President Barack Obama, starting on Sunday.
RELATED: Obama in India: 50,000 policemen, 15,000 CCTV cameras and 40 dogs to protect world's most powerful man
COMMENTS (18)
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Pak commentors are being silly about this.
There is no terrorism accusation here, merely one of spying. Why would that have any connection to Obama's visit?
There is nothing outlandish in claiming that India and Pakistan spy on each other.
We use blasphemy laws against spies. You have a more robust police ours is bribable. Dont worry any info he sent fell on IQ -50 brains
Since when are payments for passing off such information made through kosher bank transfers and not cash?
So they did not kill Sikhs in Kashmir this time before the arrival of US President, that's an improve after that earlier failed attempt
Why this news has been released before arresting any ISI agent? It's clear that its a story cooked by half cook.
What co-incidence that India is crying so frequently just before Obama's visit. And of course it was ISI this time so they can PINPOINT Pakistan rather than use the term MUSLIM who could be of any nationality. Such a big country playing cheapest tactics known to mankind...
Fascist paranoia
Nothing significant here. Countries spy on each other all the time. I am sure India has its assets here and there as well. This is not the first time and won't be the last.
peoples were accustomed of choosing Muslims again and again , this time Hindu was better to change the taste
This is normal 'deep assets' at work. Even India has individuals inside Pakistan which provide them with information. This is normal international practice. If you look at the info released by Snowden, the US had even been spying on their friends, forget foes! It is only that India has been able to catch them of late, while Pakistan still struggles to to get hold of these moles, residing in Pakistan.
curtain raiser*, what would happen during Obama visit, for Indian troll plz at least, at least watch that video of ajmal qasab where he was going to confess the crime and claimed to be a Pakistani, I being Punjabi could understand that he is trying to speak Punjabi but still could not help calling "shadi" to 'sadi"
This is most definitely possible, and in fact quite an achievement by our intel agency. Good work!
Shouldn't the agencies protect Pakistani citizens too?
Exactly what use is that information to Pakistan? Even if it knew it had no way to respond. There's no money left in the bank to fund anything.
I guess using Muslim names over and over was to redundant so they picked a purely Indian one. God these people are gullible. Next spy they "catch" would probably be passing intel to jupiter...
I don't thing that such an incident would have taken place.
This is a drama written by Indian Government ahead of US President's trip to India that if some thing goes wrong due to security failure, she can put blame.
Seems to be another story developed for the Indian media to harp about ahead of Obama's visit. Nothing new..
Another story cooked up by the Indian security forces to malign Pakistan before Obama's visit. The only difference is that this time they claim to have arrested a Hindu for alleged spying because according to them Muslims are the ones who are against India.