The Delhi Police in May 2026 arrested a 44-year-old man, a serving Indian Air Force (IAF) Wing Commander, on charges of allegedly sharing sensitive information related to the nation’s defence and classified documents with a Pakistani Intelligence operative, after being honey-trapped by a woman he met on social media, police reported on Saturday.

However, the identity of the accused officer has not been disclosed and officials said he was taken into custody on May 31, 2026. The details of the case were publicised nearly 50 days post-arrest. 

The Delhi Police released a statement, which read that the investigating team filed a charge-sheet in the case before a court on July 30.

Officer honey-trapped on social media

According to police, the case stems from a complaint lodged by the authorities of the Indian Air Force. The serving officer was arrested over allegations that he had been honey-trapped by a Pakistani Intelligence operative. 

Delhi Police said, “Post investigation, a charge sheet has been submitted before the competent court on July 30,” adding that the matter is sub judice. 

Meanwhile, the accused IAF officer has been booked under relevant provisions of the Official Secrets Act (OSA). A case had been registered against him at the Special Cell Police station, after which he was arrested and was jointly interrogated by the Special Cell sleuths as well as central intelligence agencies. 

Subsequently, he was produced before a court in Delhi, which sent him to judicial custody in June 2026. The officer is currently incarcerated in Tihar Jail, officials aware of the case said. 

Woman gained officer’s trust

A cop investigating the case said the Wing Commander, who was reportedly experiencing difficulties in his personal life, became acquainted with a woman on a social media platform earlier this year. 

The duo allegedly exchanged messages and spoke over the phone by means of a secure communication application. After gaining his trust, the woman allegedly persuaded him into sharing confidential documents and sensitive information concerning India’s defence system through videos and pictures. 

The investigators also suspect she asked the officer to install an application on the cell phone of one of his colleagues. As per officials, the application may have functioned as a spyware or remote-access malware, resulting in extraction of data from the device and tracking its location. 

IAF intelligence unit alerts cops

The lid was blown off the alleged espionage activities after the IAF’s intelligence wing detected the officer’s activities through electronic surveillance. The intelligence unit then shared details and evidence with the Delhi Police’s Special Cell, following which the accused officer was handed over to the agency for further action. The Special Cell’s probe allegedly indicated that the woman who honey-trapped the Wing Commander could be possibly working for handlers based in Pakistan.