Retired Army captain arrested in TN for allegedly leaking military secrets to woman on WhatsApp

Vellore, Tamil Nadu: A 52-year-old retired Indian Army captain has been arrested in Tamil Nadu's Vellore district for allegedly sharing sensitive military information, including details about Army equipment, with an unidentified woman he met through WhatsApp.

The accused, identified as Babu, is a resident of Keezhvallam village near Kaniyambadi in Vellore district. Police said he had served in different divisions of the Indian Army for 28 years before retiring last year with the rank of captain from the Army's equipment division.

Following his retirement, Babu returned to his native village, where he had been living until his arrest.

According to preliminary investigations, the alleged information leak began around a year ago when an unidentified woman approached Babu through WhatsApp.

Investigators suspect that the woman initially engaged him in intimate conversations to gain his confidence before gradually seeking information about the Indian Army and its equipment.

Babu allegedly began sharing military-related details with the woman in response to her requests.

Police suspect that whenever he lacked specific information, he contacted Army offices over the phone to obtain the required details before passing them on to her through WhatsApp.

Investigators believe the suspected disclosure of confidential military information continued for nearly a year.

Army officials reportedly became suspicious of Babu's activities and subsequently questioned him with the assistance of central intelligence agencies.

During the inquiry, officials allegedly discovered that the retired officer had been communicating sensitive military-related information to the unidentified woman over an extended period.

Central intelligence personnel detained Babu for questioning on Friday (October 23) before handing him over to the Vellore Rural Police on Saturday night.

Police subsequently registered a case against him and initiated a detailed investigation into the suspected information leak.

Authorities are now attempting to establish the identity of the woman who contacted Babu and determine whether she was acting independently or on behalf of another individual or organisation.

Investigators are also examining who operated the WhatsApp account used to communicate with the former Army officer and whether any foreign nationals or overseas organisations were involved.

The possibility that the retired officer was targeted through a suspected honey-trap operation is also being examined, although authorities have not confirmed the woman's identity or any foreign connection.

Further investigation is underway.