More than seven army jawans from Nashik's Deolali Camp are currently under scrutiny of the central intelligence apparatus in an alleged connection with an espionage case involving Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). These jawans are suspected of either directly or indirectly sharing sensitive military information, including army movements, ammunition specifics, and unit locations, with handlers across the border.
The questioning is continued with these jawans based on the interrogation of the army jawan Sandeep Singh, who was recently arrested by the Punjab Police for allegedly leaking classified military details to ISI operatives. Singh, who was stationed at Nashik’s Deolali Camp, was apprehended last week while on leave as part of an intelligence-led operation. Another army jawan Rajbir Singh linked with the ISI network is currently absconding. During the investigation, it was revealed that the accused Sandeep Singh has collected a total of Rs15 lakh from different places for the said espionage activities and sharing information to the ISI operative.
The questioning of other jawans stems from their regular interactions with Singh and their assignments in sensitive departments at the camp, where they might have unintentionally or intentionally shared classified information. Currently, their banking transactions and personal expenses are under scrutiny by the Army intelligence unit.
The intelligence units are also investigating whether other personnel at Deolali Army Camp might have been compromised through methods like coercion or honey-trapping, tactics frequently used by foreign intelligence agencies. Deolali Army Camp is a crucial military installation in Nashik and one of India’s oldest and most strategic military bases. The camp houses critical artillery units and serves as a training hub for defense personnel.
The Punjab Police arrested Sandeep Singh, a resident of Sardulgarh in Patiala, for allegedly leaking classified military information to Pakistan’s ISI. Investigations revealed that Singh had been in communication with suspected Pakistani agents for nearly two years and had been passing sensitive details to handlers across the border. Along with his associates, Singh was collecting information about several army camps across the country and transmitting it to ISI via WhatsApp.
The arrested accused, Sandeep Singh, joined the army in 2015. He has been serving at the Deolali Camp in Nashik since June 2024, and his associate, Rajbir, another accused who is currently absconding, was also stationed there. The Punjab Police seized three mobile phones from Sandeep, which have been sent for forensic examination to determine the extent of the information he shared with Pakistan-based agencies.
His arrest follows the detention of Amritpal Singh, a key suspect from Punjab's Tarn Taran, who was allegedly a part of a larger network involved in espionage and drug smuggling. Further interrogation led Amritsar Rural police to Sandeep Singh, exposing his role in the intelligence leak.on the Amritpal Singh interrogation. In connection with this case, two other individuals, Mandeep Singh (alias Maddy) and Madhav Sharma, were earlier arrested from Rajasthan. During their arrest, police recovered 500 grams of heroin, Rs10 lakh in suspected hawala money, and a 0.30 bore pistol, indicating a possible link between espionage and cross-border drug smuggling.
A high-level meeting of senior military officials and intelligence agencies has been convened at Deolali to assess potential breaches in security protocols. The probe is examining whether Singh had access to classified training schedules, artillery deployment details, or strategic operations conducted from the base. Following the investigation, security has been tightened across key military installations in Maharashtra and Punjab. Officials at Deolali have ordered background checks and cyber surveillance on communication channels used by personnel.
The Punjab Police and central intelligence agencies are now coordinating efforts to identify more potential leaks from the Deolali Camp and other military stations. There is a growing concern that similar espionage activities may have compromised national security beyond this single case.