Indian police in the Udupi district of Karnataka arrested a fifth suspect on Monday in connection with an espionage investigation involving the leakage of classified Indian Navy data to Pakistan. The accused, 21-year-old Alif Islam, was apprehended in Munnar, Kerala, following a joint operation by state police and intelligence agencies, according to officials. The case has exposed significant vulnerabilities within the subcontracting chains of the nation’s strategic shipbuilding facilities.
At the time of his detention, Islam, a native of Jalpaiguri in West Bengal, was residing in a rented house in the Marayur village of Kerala’s Idukki district. He has been booked under the Official Secrets Act, the Unlawful Activities Act, and the National Security Act for activities detrimental to national sovereignty. Police stated that investigators believe Islam is a Bangladeshi citizen who may have been operating under a false identity, adding that additional legal provisions could be invoked once his citizenship is officially confirmed.
The investigation is centered on a unit of the Udupi Cochin Shipyard in Malpe, which specializes in constructing tugs and auxiliary vessels for the Indian Navy. According to information from the probe, members of the spy network used the social media platforms WhatsApp and Facebook to transmit confidential ship identification numbers, movement schedules, and technical specifications to contacts in Pakistan in exchange for financial remuneration. Authorities estimate the espionage operation continued for approximately 18 months and was only disrupted in late 2025 following a formal complaint by the shipyard’s CEO.
Islam is the fifth individual implicated in the case. Previous arrests include Rohit and Santri from Uttar Pradesh, who worked for a private contractor at the Malpe facility, and Hirendra Kumar from Gujarat. Investigators are currently analyzing seized digital devices and financial records to trace communication channels and identify potential foreign handlers. The incident has prompted a comprehensive security review of private subcontractors at Indian defense shipyards and intensified coordination between law enforcement and central intelligence agencies.