In a major intelligence breach, the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has uncovered a covert operation involving a Pakistan Intelligence Operative (PIO), who posed as a teenage Indian college student to orchestrate a honeytrap targeting sensitive naval information.

According to ATS officials, the PIO contacted 27-year-old Ravi Verma, a junior engineer employed at a private firm contracted by defence establishments in Mumbai, via Facebook in November last year. The firm was responsible for critical repairs and maintenance of naval vessels.

“The initial online chats on Facebook quickly transitioned to WhatsApp, where the relationship took a romantic turn,” an ATS officer said. “Exploiting the emotional bond, the operative gradually coaxed Verma into sharing sensitive information under the pretext of helping with a college project on Indian Navy warships.”