Man sentenced to 10 years in prison for spying

RAJKOT: An Indian citizen has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for passing secret defence documents and photographs to Pakistan.

Shahid Haji Gani, an imitation jewellery trader, was on Monday sentenced by fast track court Judge M G Baraiya in Dhoraji.

Gani, who often visited Mumbai for business deals, came in contact with Mumbai-based anti-national elements and started passing secret defence documents and photographs to Pakistan via Dubai, police said.

Police, who suspected Gani was involved in anti-national activities, maintained a close vigil and arrested him when he was trying to pass the secret information with photographs to Dubai, Inspector V V Gohil said.

Gani was arrested on September three, 2002 near Chakla Chawk area of Dhoraji town.

Investigations revealed that Gani, who married a Pakistani woman, was receiving money from Pakistan's secret service and passing secret information to the neighbouring country via a Dubai-based agent, Baldha said.

Eight photographs of an IAF radar in Jamnagar, four each of Surajbari bridge and Surajbari railway station in Kutch, four photographs of the IAF base in Jamnagar and six of the naval base in Valsura were seized from Gani, Baldha said.

Baraiya, before delivering the judgement, examined 23 witnesses and verified 25 pieces of documentary evidence, Baldha said.

The judge convicted Gani under the Official Secrets Act.

Earlier, Pakistani national Anwar Paniwala was given a 14-year prison term under the Official Secrets Act and Foreigners Act by a sessions court in Jamnagar on February 27.