Bhopal: A special court on Sunday remanded Avinash Kumar – the naik arrested in a joint operation by the Madhya Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and a central intelligence agency – to 15 days judicial remand. He was honey-trapped by ISI operatives on the social media after taking a call that was forwarded by the telephone exchange of Army headquarters in 2018.

Pakistan’s ISI was trying to honey-trap an Indian Army officer, posted as an adjutant in one of the units in the north-east, but a 25-year-old naik clerk got ensnared. The call was made by a woman who posed as a member of the Army Wives Welfare Association and wanted to speak with the adjutant. As the officer was not present, Avinash took the call and was instantly hooked. He was transferred to MP from Assam in April 2018. Incidentally, his father was also in the Army. 

Avinash’s interrogation has revealed that a woman struck a friendship with him on WhatsApp and Instagram after which he was lured into sex chats in exchange for critical military information, said sources. It is alleged that Rs 50,000 was deposited in his account by his Pakistani handler through a local agent for sharing sensitive military details.