Delhi Police on Friday arrested Rajeev Sharma for leaking sensitive information. A journalist by profession, Rajeev has been associated with United News of India, The Tribune, and Sakaal Times, and most recently wrote a piece for the Chinese newspaper Global Times.
DCP (Special Cell) Sanjeev Kumar Yadav said, “He is a resident of Pitampura, and was arrested by the southwestern range of Special Cell of the Delhi Police. He was produced before the magistrate the next day, following which he was taken into police custody for six days. He was found to be in possession of some defence-related classified documents. Investigation of the case is in progress.
Progressing in the case, the Delhi Police on Saturday have also arrested a Chinese woman and a Nepalese man for their alleged involvement in the spy ring involving journalist Rajeev Sharma. Police have registered a case under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) against Sharma and the Chinese and Nepalese nationals have been arrested under the same charges, deputy commissioner of police (special cell) Sanjeev Kumar Yadav said
“Special Cell has arrested a freelance journalist Rajeev Sharma for passing sensitive information to Chinese intelligence. One Chinese lady and her Nepalese associate were also arrested for paying him large amounts of money routed through shell companies.
Chinese intelligence tasked the journalist for conveying sensitive information in lieu of large amounts of money. A large number of mobile phones, laptops, and other incriminating or sensitive material have been recovered,” said Yadav.
Police said he was found in possession of confidential defence documents. In a press statement issued late Friday night, the police said, “...Rajeev Sharma...has been arrested by the Special Cell in an Official Secrets Act case. He was found to be in possession of some Defence-related classified documents. Investigation of the case is in progress and further details will be shared in due course.”
Sharma was produced before a city court on September 15 after which he was sent to police custody for 6 days. He has also filed a bail application which will be heard on September 22. Sharma has worked with a news agency, and a Punjab-based English daily in the past.
The issued a Press Release that said that while interogation, the arrested journalist had disclosed " Rajeev Sharma has disclosed his involvement in procurement of secret / sensitive information and further conveying the same to his Chinese handlers namely Michael and George, based in Kunming, China, through different digital channels. He further disclosed that he was about to send/convey these recovered secret documents to his handlers. In the past also, he had sent several documents in the form of reports to his handlers and got a handsome remuneration."
Further he disclosed of how between 2010 to 2014 he wrote columns for Chinese Mouthpience Golbal Times and how he was invited to China by a Chinese Intelligence agent.
The Press Release read that "...one Chinese intelligence agent named Michael from Kunming city of China contacted Rajeev Sharma through his LINKEDIN account and invited him to Kunming China for an interview in a Chinese Media Company. The entire trip was funded by Michael. During, the meeting, Michael and his junior Xou asked Rajeev Sharma to provide inputs on various aspects of India-China relations. Between, 2016 to 2018 Rajeev Sharma was in contact with Michael and Xou. He was tasked to provide the information / inputs on issues like Indian deployment on Bhutan-Sikkim-China tri-junction including Doklam, the pattern of India-Myanmar military co-operation, India-China boundary issue etc. "
Rajeev told the police about the shell company by which the funds were transferred, "...shell companies are being operated by foreign intelligence to transfer funds to Rajiv Sharma. It is revealed that Chinese nationals namely Jhang Chang and his wife Chang-li-lia were running the companies MZ Pharmacy and MZ Malls, under fake names Suraj and Usha. They are both presently in China and on their behalf, another Chinese lady Qing Shi and one Raj Bhora, a Nepali National (both directors of MZ Pharmacy) are presently operating the business from Mahipalpur. Both, Qing Shi (age 30 yrs) and Sher Singh @ Raj Bohra (age 30 yrs) have also been arrested. Further investigation with respect to the Chinese shell companies based in Mahipalpur is in progress." The release read.
Since the investigation is in progress, the police have eanwhile recovered mobile phones and laptops. These will be examined by forensic experts to unearth the entire network and conspiracy in this case.
