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Pak espionage case: Samajwadi Party MP denies any role, says will commit suicide if any evidence found

The MP's PA Farhat has been sent to 10-day police custody. This is the fourth arrest in the case.

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Munawwar Saleem
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Samajwadi Party's Rajya Sabha MP Munawwar Saleem has said that he would extend support to the probe against his PA arrested for allegedly being involved in the Pakistan espionage case unearthed earlier this week. However, denying any role in the racket, he said that if any evidence was found linking him to the espionage, he would commit suicide along with his family.

Pakistan High Commission staffer Mehmood Akhtar, expelled by India for spying, had named Saleem's personal assistant Farhat as one of his "close associates" in the crime following which he was arrested.

According to a TOI report, Saleem said that he had sent communication to the Parliament and government for Farhat's verification. "Though I am not yet sure of his involvement in the spying syndicate, I would like to say that the police and other agencies which gave him a clean chit for appointment should also be held accountable," he is quoted as saying.

Farhat was picked up from Saleem's residence last night and detained. He was arrested this afternoon after prolonged questioning. "During Mehmood's questioning, Farhat Khan's name surfaced as one of his close associates in the espionage racket he was running along with names of some other Pakistan High Commission staffers," said a senior police officer.

TV channels also aired a confessional video of Mehmood Akhtar in which he purportedly named Farhat besides others including Syed Farruq, Khadim Hussain, Shahid Iqbal and Iqbal Cheema, claiming that they were also "staffers". In the video, he also said he used to meet Farhat at Mandi House Metro Station.

A crime branch officer said Farhat's preliminary questioning has led to "certain revelations" that need to be further investigated. Names of several other people allegedly involved in the racket have cropped up.

Delhi Police is also trying to apprehend other members of the espionage ring who, it believes, were in close contact with Pakistan Mehmood Akhtar. The Pakistan High Commission staffer was caught receiving secret documents here on October 26.

Two others, Maulana Ramzan and Subhash Jangir, residents of Nagaur, Rajasthan, were held along with Akhtar. Another accused Shoaib was detained in Jodhpur and brought to Delhi by the police where he was arrested.

(With PTI Inputs)

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