Russian, German held for suspected spying in Punjab

The arrest of Russian Olga Timoshik and German Thomas Keuhen, who were staying in India even after their visas expired a long time ago, has opened a Pandora’s Box.

Punjab Police suspect the two were involved in “suspicious and anti-national activities”.

Timoshik was picked up from Jaipur, Rajasthan, this week, while Keuhen was arrested at a religious place close to the high-security Bhakra dam in Ropar district.

SSP LK Yadav said Keuhen, 42, had been living in a shrine without passport for the past three years. He was convicted of spying in Germany a few years ago, after which he came to India on a tourist visa and was overstaying in suspicious circumstances.

Yadav said the German embassy had been informed and more details were being sought about Keuhen.

He said before coming to Punjab, Thomas gave his passport to Timoshik. “She [Timoshik] had been staying in Jaipur without a valid visa for more than a year by changing identities,” Yadav said.
Police said Timoshik misused Keuhen’s passport to facilitate the exit of another foreigner from Nepal in 2008. The foreigner subsequently stayed in Bangalore using fake documents.

Timoshik, who has been in police custody for the past three days, however, refused to recognise Keuhen.

As per the documents recovered from her and information gathered from her laptop, she runs a business house in Hong Kong.

Yadav said the possibility of the foreigners’ involvement in anti-national activities could not be ruled out.