Maharashtra ATS foils honeytrap, PIO impersonated Indian student

In a major intelligence breach, the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has uncovered a covert operation involving a Pakistan Intelligence Operative (PIO), who posed as a teenage Indian college student to orchestrate a honeytrap targeting sensitive naval information.

According to ATS officials, the PIO contacted 27-year-old Ravi Verma, a junior engineer employed at a private firm contracted by defence establishments in Mumbai, via Facebook in November last year. The firm was responsible for critical repairs and maintenance of naval vessels.

“The initial online chats on Facebook quickly transitioned to WhatsApp, where the relationship took a romantic turn,” an ATS officer said. “Exploiting the emotional bond, the operative gradually coaxed Verma into sharing sensitive information under the pretext of helping with a college project on Indian Navy warships.”

The requests became increasingly specific, eventually including ship deployments, movement logs, and technical vulnerabilities. By December, Verma had begun leaking classified information, unaware that a foreign intelligence asset was manipulating him.

To further ensnare him, the operative transferred Rs 2,000 into Verma’s bank account as a supposed token of gratitude, despite his initial reluctance. “The credentials of the sender’s account remain untraceable,” the officer noted.

As the relationship deepened, the operative maintained a digital facade of affection through emotional and sentimental messages. 

Eventually, the ‘college student’ proposed marriage and expressed a desire to meet Verma in Mumbai. However, the plan was thwarted when Verma’s mother, Rekha Verma, became suspicious of the relationship.

In an unexpected turn, a foreign handler—identified only as “Sir”—intervened to convince Verma’s mother to approve the marriage. 

ATS officials believe this handler played a critical role in managing the operation and guiding the operative’s tactics.

Over time, Verma shared not just military data but personal and professional details, including his work in sensitive naval repair operations, financial struggles, and family background. The handler exploited these vulnerabilities by offering promises of continued financial support in exchange for cooperation.

What began as emotional manipulation evolved into active espionage. Verma, despite being aware of the risks, continued to pass on critical intelligence, ultimately becoming a willing asset for foreign handlers.

This investigation has shed light on a dangerous espionage tactic, emotional and digital manipulation used to penetrate defence circles. Verma now faces prosecution under national security laws, and a wider probe is ongoing to determine the full extent of the breach.

This article first appeared on Mid Day