Visas issued during spy Madhuri Gupta’s tenure under scanner

The team investigating diplomat Madhuri Gupta’s case is reportedly scrutinising all visas cleared by the Indian mission in Islamabad during her tenure.

A rattled intelligence apparatus is trying to reconstruct every little detail of Gupta’s tenure. Sleuths are now trying to find out whether Gupta facilitated Indian visas for any Pakistani national during her tenure in Islamabad since 2007.

Gupta entered the spy ring after meeting a Pakistani journalist who worked with a reputed media group in Islamabad. Investigators have learnt that the journalist had been denied visa several times by the Indian mission because of his strong anti-India views.

Gupta, then a second secretary, was angry with the Indian Foreign Service. She was dissatisfied with her working conditions. She had reportedly told the scribe that she would not be of much help to him. The scribe was learnt to have introduced her to one Rana, who was with Pakistan’s Intelligence Bureau.

A scrutiny of Gupta’s frequent trips to India during her posting in Pakistan has thrown up more details. It is learnt that Gupta had once crossed the Wagah border in her car. The journey was reportedly facilitated by her Pakistani handlers. Investigators are flummoxed why Gupta chose the road route to India when other comfortable modes of transport were available.

Rana was believed to have asked her to get information on dams being planned in Jammu and Kashmir. Gupta had travelled to Rajouri to meet her close friend Dr Champa Sharma to collect the information.