LUCKNOW: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a chargesheet against 13 accused before a special NIA court in Lucknow in connection with an espionage case involving illegal access to sensitive installations and the transmission of photographs and videos, including geo-tagged material, to entities based in an enemy country.The chargesheet names Praveen, Raj Valmiki, Shiva Valmiki, Ritik Gangwar, Sameer alias Shooter, Durgesh Nishad, Naushad, Gagan Kumar, Vivek, Shivraj, Meera Thakur and Shane Iram alias Mahak. The case relates to an alleged conspiracy to gather and transmit sensitive information that could compromise the country’s security and sovereignty.The accused have been chargesheeted under Section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, relating to criminal conspiracy, and Section 152, pertaining to acts endangering the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India, besides Sections 3 and 5 of the Official Secrets Act and Sections 13, 17 and 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.The NIA has also submitted a Detailed Investigation Report (DIR) against five juveniles in conflict with law before the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) on May 18, 2026, taking the total number of persons proceeded against in the case to 18, apart from other accused arrested during the investigation.The case was initially registered on March 14, 2026, at Kaushambi police station under the Ghaziabad Commissionerate under Sections 61(2) and 152 of the BNS and Sections 3 and 5 of the Official Secrets Act. During the course of the probe, police added Section 18 of the UAPA.So far, 21 accused persons have been arrested in connection with the case, according to the investigation agency. The case was subsequently handed over to the NIA’s Lucknow branch, which registered a fresh case on April 9, 2026, and took over the investigation.According to the NIA chargesheet, the investigation established that the accused allegedly entered into a criminal conspiracy to carry out illegal acts and offences considered prejudicial to the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India.The agency has alleged that the accused trespassed into, approached and accessed prohibited and sensitive areas of vital importance, where they allegedly installed spy cameras and collected sensitive information.The chargesheet states that the accused allegedly transmitted photographs and videos, including geo-tagged material, to entities based in an enemy country. The investigation has also found, according to the NIA, that the accused facilitated entities linked to the enemy state in procuring and using Indian SIM cards for unlawful activities.The accused allegedly further assisted these entities in obtaining photographs and videos of sensitive installations along with their precise GPS coordinates. The NIA has maintained that such activities had the potential to endanger the country’s sovereignty, unity, integrity and security.The NIA said further investigation into the remaining accused and other suspects is continuing.
