IAF Group Captain charged under Official Secrets Act: Sources

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An Indian Air Force officer, who was taken into custody by the counter intelligence wing of the force for alleged involvement in espionage and leaking classified documents, has been charged under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) and handed over to the police, sources said. They said, the Group Captain, posted at the IAF headquarters here, was handed over to Delhi Police yesterday after nearly 10 days of questioning by the counter-intelligence wing of the force.

"The Delhi Police will now carry forward the probe. The officer has been slapped charges under Official Secrets Act," said a source. The officer was allegedly leaking classified documents to a woman through through WhatsApp.

Sources said he had befriended the woman through a social media website. The investigators from IAF's counter intelligence wing were also probing whether he was part of a larger espionage ring being run from Pakistan, the sources said. The officer was indulging in certain "unwanted activities" through unauthorised electronic devices which is against existing orders, sources had said.

The IAF officially did not comment on the matter. The identity of the officer has been kept secret as investigation into the case was going on. Punishment under Official Secrets Act entails a jail term of up to seven years.

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