Two of India’s spies in Australia were expelled in 2021 for trying to collect information: Report

The Australian media has claimed that Indian intelligence agents were a part of a “nest of spies” that resulted in the expulsion of two of them, in what seems to be a pincer operation to trap India on “transnational suppression.”

While the MEA responded sharply to a Washington Post article published the day before, which claimed that former RAW chief Samant Goel had approved the plot to kill Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York, the Australian media has extensively covered the allegations that Indian spies were exposed and expelled for their attempts to obtain classified data on Australia’s trade relations and sensitive defence projects. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had earlier in the day said that the US report was speculative and unhelpful to an ongoing investigation.

The US report contained direct allegations against Goel and implied that NSA Ajit Doval and PM Narendra Modi’s inner circle may have known about the plot to kill Pannun on US soil. Because of an ongoing investigation by a high-level committee to look into the security concerns shared by the US government on “networks of organized criminals, terrorists and others,” Jaiswal said the report was reckless.

The Australian media, which also claimed that RAW agents were carefully monitoring Indians residing in Australia and cultivating tight ties with current and past politicians, did not cite any official, nor did the US.

“The ‘nest of spies’ was carried out by India’s foreign intelligence service, as confirmed by national security and government figures,” the ABC media group reported. “A number” of Indian officials were subsequently expelled from Australia by the (Scott) Morrison government (in 2020).

When the media group contacted Mike Burgess, the head of ASIO, he declined to confirm the allegation. When asked whether he had ever participated in the removal of Indian employees from Australia, he declined to answer.

According to the Washington Post article, to which the MEA had responded sharply, RAW agents had also been removed from Australia, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Two days before, in the presence of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre, India had summoned Canadian Deputy Envoy Stewart Wheeler over the raising of pro-Khalistan chants at the Khalsa Day festivities in Toronto.

Joining the US, Japan, and Australia in the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, India is seen as a crucial defense ally in the Indo-Pacific region to oppose China’s military build-up.

classified trade relations information

Claims that Indian spies were exposed and banished after being discovered attempting to get secrets about critical defense projects, airport security, and confidential data regarding Australia’s trade connections have received a lot of attention from the Australian media.
The Australian media, which also claimed that RAW agents were carefully monitoring Indians residing in Australia and forming strong contacts with current and past politicians, did not cite any official, nor did the US.