Pakistan mission staff held for spying, told to leave

The two other persons from Rajasthan, arrested in connection with the case, was produced before a Delhi court and sent to a 12-day police custody. Police said their custodial interrogation was needed to unearth the larger conspiracy.

The investigating officer alleged that Akhtar had initially shown an Aadhaar card in the name of Mehboob Rajput but after sustained interrogation, he revealed his real name. During interrogation, Akhtar said he was posted in the Pakistan High Commission here for about twoand-half years and was working in the visa section, police said. He said he was on deputation to the ISI since January 2013. He was a serving Hawaldar of 40 Baloch Regiment of Pakistan Army and a native of village Kahuta in Rawalpindi district, police said. 

“The accused were involved in espionage activities for over a year-and-a-half. We were watching their activities for past six months. Akhtar is a kingpin of the spy ring,” Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) R S Yadav said. 

Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit to his office to convey India’s action following brief detention of Mehmood Akhtar who was later released. “Foreign Secretary summoned Pak High Commissioner to convey that Pak High Commission staffer has been declared persona non grata for espionage activities,” said Vikas Swarup, spokesperson of Ministry of External Affairs. 

Basit strongly protested with Indian Foreign Secretary the “detention and manhandling” of Pakistan High Commission staffer on Wednesday in violation of 1961 Vienna Convention, according to Pakistan Foreign Office. The Pakistani envoy also strongly rejected the accusations, terming them “false and unsubstantiated”.