The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested a Kolkata resident, identified as Zafar Riaz alias Rizvi, for spying for Pakistan Intelligence Officers (PIOs) and passing confidential security-related information as part of an anti-India terror conspiracy. The central agency said the accused was involved in espionage activities linked to Pakistan-backed operatives and had been under investigation in a larger spy network case.
According to an official NIA press release issued on May 20, 2026, the accused was arrested in connection with espionage activities involving the clandestine sharing of sensitive information with Pakistan Intelligence Officers.
The agency stated that Zafar Riaz, a resident of Kolkata, had been under surveillance and a Look Out Circular (LOC) had already been issued against him before his arrest.
The NIA said proceedings were also underway to declare him a Proclaimed Offender (PO) before he was taken into custody. He has been booked under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Official Secrets Act, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act [UA(P) Act].
Investigators revealed that the accused was married to a Pakistani national and that his children are also Pakistani citizens. According to the probe agency, Zafar had frequently travelled between India and Pakistan since 2005.
The NIA further disclosed that the accused had previously been convicted in an espionage case under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Official Secrets Act. During one of his visits to Pakistan, he allegedly came into contact with Pakistan Intelligence Officers, who reportedly cultivated him to carry out espionage activities in India in exchange for financial benefits and promises of Pakistani citizenship.
The agency stated that the espionage activities were linked to case RC-12/2025/NIA/DLI. During the investigation, officials allegedly found evidence showing that Zafar Riaz had been secretly passing sensitive and security-related information to Pakistani handlers.
According to the NIA, the accused also played a role in facilitating covert communication networks for Pakistani operatives. He provided One-Time Passwords (OTPs) linked to Indian telecom numbers to Pakistan Intelligence Officers to help activate WhatsApp accounts in India.
The agency claimed that these WhatsApp accounts were then used by Pakistani handlers to communicate secretly with another accused, Motiram Jat, who is also facing charges in the same espionage case. Investigators alleged that Jat was involved in transmitting classified security-related information to Pakistani operatives.
The NIA said the investigation is still underway to identify and trace other individuals connected to the espionage racket and uncover the broader conspiracy behind the anti-India network.
Security agencies are also examining whether the accused had links to additional sleeper cells or information-sharing modules operating across different states. Further arrests in the case are likely as the investigation progresses.
