IAF officer detained for espionage, attempt to access sensitive documents: Nirmala Sitharaman claims 'enough reasons for detention'

New Delhi: An IAF officer was taken into custody on the basis of surveillance and the action was not taken in a hurry, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Thursday. A Group Captain, posted at the IAF’s headquarters, was taken into custody by the force for alleged involvement in espionage and possible attempt to access sensitive documents. Sitharaman has already been briefed about the action against the officer, officials said. There were enough reasons to detain him, the defence minister told reporters when asked about the issue. The investigators are probing whether the officer was a victim of honey trap, sources said on Wednesday. [caption id=“attachment_4163053” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of India’s defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman. AFP[/caption] The officer was indulging in certain “unwanted activities” through unauthorised electronic devices which is against existing orders, they said. Apparently, he was in touch with a woman through social media whose identity has not yet been established. A team of the IAF’s central security and investigation took the officer into custody, and he is being interrogated, said the sources. The “unwanted” activities by the officer were discovered during routine counter intelligence surveillance, the sources said, adding he attempted to posses sensitive documents. The IAF officially did not comment on the matter. The identity of the officer has been kept secret as investigation into the case is going on, the sources said. The investigators are also examining whether the officer has passed on any sensitive information to anyone.