ISI agent jailed by Delhi court for spying

A Pakistani national, working as an ISI module in India, has been jailed by a Delhi court for six-and-a-half years for spying and illegally residing in the country.

"The prosecution has proved that the accused is a Pakistani national and was residing in India unauthorisedly under the name of Sarang Ali Khan," additional sessions Judge Rajneesh Kumar Gupta said while convicting 39-year-old Mohd Azhar Rafiq.

"The accused was also in possession of offending documents when he was apprehended while sending the same to Bangladesh through courier," the court said convicting Rafiq on two counts of espionage and illegal stay here.

"Keeping in view the facts and the seriousness of the offences, accused is sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for a period of six years and six months under section 3 (penalties for spying) of the Official Secrets Act," the court said.

It added, "The facts of the case on record had proved that the Rafiq has collected offending documents for a purpose prejudicial to the safety and interest of the state."

Rafiq was arrested by Delhi police's special cell sleuths on January 16, 2005 on a tip-off that a Pakistan national, working as an ISI agent, was staying illegally in India under the false identity of Sarang Ali Khan and would be coming to Delhi from Gwalior by train.

He was arrested at New Delhi railway station while getting an envelope couriered to Bangladesh.