Espionage Case

All you need to know about WikiLeaks and why it got Assange in trouble

In February this year, Assange's legal team sought permission for a final appeal, arguing the case was politically motivated

Jailed US reporter Evan Gershkovich to stand trial in Russia, say officials

US journalist Evan Gershkovich, who has been jailed for over a year in Russia on espionage charges, will stand trial in the Ural Mountains city of Yekaterinburg, where he was detained, authorities said on Thursday. An indictment of The Wall Street Journal reporter has been finalized and his case was filed to the Sverdlovsky Regional Court in the city about 1,400 kilometers (870 miles) east of Moscow, according to Russia's Prosecutor General's office. There was no word on when the trial would begin. Gershkovich, 32, is accused of gathering secret information on orders from the CIA about Uralvagonzavod, a facility in the Sverdlovsk region that produces and repairs military equipment, the Prosecutor General's office said in a statement, revealing for the first time the details of the accusations against him. Gershkovich was detained while on a reporting trip to Yekaterinburg in March 2023 and accused of spying for the United States. The reporter, his employer and the US government deni

Ex-BrahMos engineer gets life imprisonment for spying for Pakistan

The former BrahMos engineer has been charged under Official Secrets Act for keeping classified information related to missiles in his personal device, which was leaked outside

Australia expels 2 Indian spies for espionage attempt in 2020: Reports

Australia expelled two Indian spies in 2020 for allegedly trying to "steal secrets" about sensitive defence projects and airport security, the Australian media reported on Tuesday. While The Australian and The Sydney Morning Herald said two Indian spies were booted out, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) did not mention any number. There was no immediate comment from Indian officials on the Australian media reports. "Indian spies were kicked out of Australia after being caught trying to steal secrets about sensitive defence projects and airport security, as well as classified information on Australia's trade relationships," the ABC report said. The so-called foreign "nest of spies" disrupted by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) in 2020 was also accused of closely monitoring Indians living in Australia and developing close relationships with current and former politicians, it said. The reports came a day after The Washington Post named an Indian RA

Indian Navy veterans released from death sentence in Qatar; 7 return home

Eight former Navy officers detained in Qatar on espionage charges had their capital punishment commuted to imprisonment following diplomatic efforts by India. Here's what happened

Qatar frees eight Indian Navy veterans jailed on 'espionage' charges

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said seven of them have returned to India and that India appreciates the decision by the Amir of Qatar to enable the release and home-coming of the Indians

Qatar accepts India's appeal against death sentence to ex-Navy officers

On October 26, the eight personnel were given death sentence by Qatar's Court of First Instance

The Qatar espionage case: Unanswered questions

The truth in matters of alleged espionage, especially involving third countries, however, is often like peeling an onion. Each layer uncovers another layer of truth

Why did Qatar give death penalty to 8 ex-Indian Navy officers?

Journalist detained in China for 3 yrs for espionage returns to Australia

A Chinese-Australian journalist who was convicted on murky espionage charges and detained in China for three years has returned to Australia, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Wednesday. Cheng Lei, 48, worked for the international department of China's state broadcaster CCTV. She has reunited with her two children in Melbourne, Albanese said. Her return comes ahead of Albanese's planned visit to Beijing this year on a date yet to be announced. Albanese's government has been lobbying for the release of Cheng and Yang Hengjun, another Chinese-Australian held in China since 2019. Bilateral relations have improved since Albanese's centre-left Labour Party was elected after nine years of conservative rule. Beijing has lifted several official and unofficial trade barriers on Australian exports. Albanese suggested that Cheng had recently been sentenced after she was convicted in a closed-court trial last year on national security charges. Her return brings an end to a very difficult

Court rejects ATS plea on polygraph test for scientist in espionage case

A special court here has rejected the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad's plea seeking a polygraph, voice layer and psychological analysis tests for DRDO scientist Pradeep Kurulkar, an accused in an espionage case. Special judge V R Kachre on Saturday rejected the ATS' application requesting the court to seek Kurulkar's consent for a polygraph test, voice layer and psychological analysis test. Kurulkar, the then-director of a laboratory affiliated with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in Pune, was arrested on May 3 under the Official Secrets Act for allegedly leaking confidential information to a Pakistani intelligence operative. Defence counsel Rhishikesh Ganu said the accused cannot be forced to undergo the said tests and argued that the entire case was based on telephonic communication and electronic gadgets, which are with the ATS. The judge in his order said, "...I am of the view that the accused without his consent cannot be forced to undergo either ...

Iran sentences former defence ministry official to death over espionage

The former Deputy Defence Minister, identified by the Iranian Intelligence Ministry as Alireza Akbari, was charged with 'espionage on behalf of Britain'

SC cancels Kerala HC order granting pre-arrest bail to 4 in Isro spy case

The Supreme Court Friday quashed the Kerala High Court order granting anticipatory bail to four people, including a former Director General of Police (DGP), in a case of alleged frame-up of scientist Nambi Narayanan in the 1994 ISRO espionage matter. A bench of Justices M R Shah and C T Ravikumar remanded the matter back to the high court and directed it to decide the issue within four weeks. "All these appeals allowed. Impugned orders granting anticipatory bail passed by HC are quashed and set aside. All matters are remitted back to the HC to be decided afresh on it own merits. This court had not observed anything on merits for either of the parties. "It is ultimately for the HC to pass orders. We request the HC to decide the anticipatory bail applications at the earliest preferably within four weeks from date of this order," the bench said. The top court directed the registry of the high court to notify bail applications before the bench concerned within one week from today. "T

Russia demands 24-year sentence for ex-journalist in espionage trial

The prosecution in the espionage trial of former Russian journalist Ivan Safronov has demanded a 24-year prison sentence

Former US Prez Donald Trump potentially facing Espionage Act violation case

The FBI seized classified material from Donald Trump, and court filings revealed the former president may be under investigation for mishandling government records

False implication of Narayanan delayed India's cryo tech development: CBI

CBI opposed in the Kerala High Court the bail pleas by two former Kerala Police officers, who were involved in the arrest of former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan in a 1994 espionage case

Victims of 1994 ISRO espionage case will be heard, says Kerala court

'Victims' of the 1994 espionage case -- former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan and two Maldives nationals who were arrested back then -- will also be heard

Pak hits back, summons Indian diplomat after New Delhi expels 2 for spying

Pakistan conveyed that the Indian action was in "clear violation" of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the diplomatic norms

Pakistan, India may temporarily recall their envoys: Report

The tension intensified after tit for tat naming of diplomatic staff for alleged spy work by both sides

India-Pakistan ties hit new low over 'spying' allegations

Pak said 8 Indian High Commission officials were involved in 'coordinating terrorist and subversive activities in Pakistan'