The sources said Gupta had been updating her Pakistani handlers with bits of information she picked from various high commission officials.
The names of several contacts of Madhuri Gupta have emerged from her ongoing interrogation in Delhi. Among them are a senior army officer, an officer of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and several diplomats, sources in the security establishment say.
Gupta, an IFS-B officer who was second secretary in the Indian high commission in Islamabad, was arrested last week for allegedly spying for Pakistan against India.
All those in regular contact with Gupta and whose names have been mentioned by her would be interviewed, but there is no concrete information if any of them knew of Gupta’s dubious operations, the sources said. Investigators said they have no evidence yet to believe that Gupta was part of a “spy ring”.
Among those to be interviewed are a couple from Jammu and Kashmir — relatives of the army officer — who were in regular touch with Gupta.
Though external affairs minister SM Krishna termed the matter “serious”, a security official said Gupta may not have “compromised” strategic information. He said the diplomat seems to have operated on her own and there are no indications yet to believe that more staffers in the high commission were compromised. “(But) we would investigate the episode comprehensively.”
Krishna said the government is finding out her “motive and modus operandi” and will act accordingly. “Investigations are going on and we will have to wait till they are complete,” he said on the sidelines of the Saarc summit in Thimpu.
Investigators believe Gupta may have been recruited a few years ago, probably when she was posted in Kuala Lumpur. The sources said she may have disclosed details of all Intelligence Bureau and RAW officials posted at the high commission.
Though the details of the officials are known within the mission, exposing them may compromise the secret nature of their deployment.
The sources said Gupta had been updating her Pakistani handlers with bits of information she picked from various high commission officials.
It has also come to light that Gupta told a news agency a few months back: “I should get London or Washington.” She had earlier served in the Indian mission in Baghdad and said she was looking forward to another “good” posting.
Meanwhile, Pakistan insisted that the arrest of Gupta is an “internal matter” of India.
“It is on expected lines,” a senior Indian official said, pointing out that India never expected Pakistan to accept guilt. “It is not part of the intelligence world (to accept guilt)”
Pakistan’s foreign office spokesman Abdul Basit said India has not yet officially informed the Pakistani government of the arrest.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}