Police said a woman “from Canada” tricked a staff member of the Moscow embassy

LUCKNOW: According to investigators on Tuesday, an employee of the Indian embassy in Moscow who was detained there on January 28 was lured in with a hefty payment of Rs 25 lakh to participate in a sophisticated international plot and espionage scheme run by the Pakistani spy organization Inter-Services Intelligence.

Satyendra Siwal, 27, has been working as a security assistant in Moscow since 2021. The ATS of the UP police alleged that Siwal admitted to giving information regarding Indian military facilities and issues pertaining to the country’s diplomatic offices.
“During his tenure in Moscow, he came into contact with a woman who claimed to be from Canada and developed a relationship with her, despite being married and having children.”
The lady tricked Siwal into disclosing sensitive information by posing as an ISI agent. An ATS officer said, “Siwal was offered money in exchange for information through her contacts.”
Siwal would not explain where the money came from that was discovered in his Indian bank account in the Russian city, according to ATS officials.
ATS has asked Moscow to confirm the information about his financial accounts there.
After closely examining Siwal’s accounts and financial dealings since 2021, ATS discovered many payments from unknown sources.
While Siwal was in Lucknow for his cousin’s wedding, he was apprehended. He was born in Hapur, Uttar Pradesh, and is being charged under the Official Secrets Act of 1923 and section 121A (conspiracy against the state).
All of Siwal’s electronic devices have been seized and sent for a forensic analysis in order to recover any deleted or altered material, according to ATS ADG Mohit Agarwal.
ATS sources claim that ISI agents have been trying to lure ministry of foreign affairs (MEA) staff members with cash rewards in return for private information.