Politics
An Indian Air Force wing commander has been accused of allegedly sharing sensitive information with a woman in exchange for private photographs.
An Indian Air Force wing commander has been accused of allegedly sharing sensitive information with a woman in exchange for private photographs. Wing Commander Manvendra Singh Sabharwal is accused of sharing information about classified war plans, military deployments and the operational capabilities of a strategic airbase. Delhi Police have filed a charge sheet against Manvendra Singh, while the court is awaiting government approval to initiate trial proceedings against the accused.
According to a report by The Times of India, the Counter Intelligence Unit of the Delhi Police Special Cell has submitted the charge sheet before the Patiala House Court. It alleges that Sabharwal shared information about India's war plans, the operational capabilities of the Leh airbase and drone warfare systems in exchange for private photographs of the woman. According to investigators, the wing commander remained in contact with the woman through WhatsApp between January 12 and April 1, 2026. During this period, he allegedly shared sensitive defence information and also helped her gain access to classified material held by other military personnel. According to the report, investigators claim that the woman allegedly sent malware to the officer and instructed him to install it on the mobile phones and laptops of personnel serving under him. The aim was reportedly to obtain additional sensitive information from those devices. Indian authorities have described the woman as an alleged Pakistani operative.
The charge sheet further alleges that Sabharwal shared details about the use of the Leh airbase and its capability to accommodate and operate different types of military aircraft. According to the report, in an alleged WhatsApp conversation, the officer told the woman that the airbase was used occasionally rather than routinely and that all types of military aircraft could operate from there. The wing commander has also been accused of leaking information about India's drone warfare capabilities and personnel involved in such operations. According to investigators, the woman communicated with the officer on WhatsApp using an Indian mobile SIM card issued in Gujarat. However, Indian authorities claim that she was operating from Pakistan. The report, however, presents no independently verified evidence establishing any involvement by the Pakistani government or any state institution in the alleged operation.
According to The Times of India, Sabharwal was heading a classified unit of the Indian Air Force. He came under the scrutiny of security officials after personnel posted at his office in Race Course noticed that he possessed an iPhone, which he was not authorized to keep because of the sensitive nature of his duties. The report states that an examination of the mobile phone allegedly revealed his communications with the woman and the exchange of sensitive information. Manvendra Singh Sabharwal was arrested on May 30 and has been charged under the Official Secrets Act, along with other relevant legal provisions. Meanwhile, a Delhi court has directed the police to expedite the process of obtaining the mandatory government sanction for prosecution before the court takes cognizance of the charge sheet filed against the wing commander. The court has also ordered that the accused be produced before it on December 5.
