An Indian Navy sailor has been arrested for allegedly sharing sensitive defence information with a Pakistani intelligence operative after being lured into a “honey trap” through social media.

Police arrested the sailor, identified as 31-year-old Pradip Mukherjee, in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. Authorities confirmed his identity following the arrest.

Mukherjee, a native of West Bengal, joined the Indian Navy in 2014. He was serving under the Eastern Naval Command based in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.

He had travelled to Coimbatore to attend a management course at INS Agrani Naval Leadership Training Centre. A counter-intelligence team detained him from the facility on Saturday (October 3).

According to investigators, Mukherjee came into contact with a woman on social media who allegedly worked as an agent of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Investigators said he was subsequently drawn into a “honey trap” and remained in regular contact with the woman for several months.

The investigation found that highly sensitive information, including the movements of key warships at the Visakhapatnam naval base, strategic assets and operational procedures, was allegedly shared with the Pakistani operative.

The Andhra Pradesh Police Counter Intelligence (CI) cell had been monitoring Mukherjee’s digital activities. Investigators analysed his digital footprint and gathered evidence indicating that he had allegedly been involved in passing classified information.

This is not the first reported case of an Indian Navy personnel being allegedly targeted through an ISI “honey trap”. In March this year, Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad arrested Lance Naik Adarsh Kumar, also known as Lucky, who was serving under the Southern Naval Command in Kochi, Kerala.

Investigators in that case alleged that Kumar had sent photographs of warships and sensitive naval information to ISI agents in exchange for money.

Indian security agencies have alleged that Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI is using digital platforms for espionage and “honey trap” operations targeting India’s defence and border security establishments. Security agencies have intensified surveillance to counter such activities.