Delhi Court Urges Police to Expedite Case Against IAF Officer in Espionage Matter
A Delhi court has directed police to speed up the prosecution approval process for an IAF officer accused of espionage.
New Delhi, November 13 (Daily Kiran) : A Delhi court has instructed the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) to accelerate the approval process for prosecuting Wing Commander Manroth Singh Sabharwal. He was arrested for allegedly sharing sensitive information from the Indian Air Force with Pakistani intelligence agents.
The Patiala House Court issued this directive after the prosecution informed the court that the approval required under Section 152 of the Indian Penal Code and the Official Secrets Act was still pending.
Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Mridul Gupta ordered the relevant DCP to oversee this process. He emphasized the need for a report to be submitted with his signature by the next hearing date, taking into account the delays that have already occurred.
This instruction followed the defense attorney’s objections to the prosecution’s arguments, highlighting significant delays in obtaining necessary approvals. The defense also questioned the need for authorization under the Official Secrets Act. After hearing both sides, the court mandated that a report on the progress of the approval process be filed by the next hearing date.
Additionally, the court issued a production warrant for the accused and served a show-cause notice to the jail superintendent for failing to present the accused in court on the hearing day.
The next hearing is scheduled for December 5, and the court ordered that the accused be presented via video conferencing every 14 days.
According to the police charge sheet, Sabharwal was in contact with a Pakistani intelligence agent through a “honeytrap” from January to April 2026. He allegedly shared sensitive information regarding the deployment of fighter jets in Leh, military exercises at the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Suratgarh, and details related to a confidential drone unit.
Furthermore, police claim that under the direction of the Pakistani operative, he installed malware or spyware on the mobile devices of five subordinate officers, raising concerns about the potential compromise of sensitive data and official communications.
