Jyoti Malhotra's case has shocked the entire country. However, you may be surprised to know that this is not the first such case. A similar case involving a former diplomat had made headlines in 2010. That year, a junior Indian diplomat, Madhuri Gupta was arrested in New Delhi on charges of spying for Pakistan’s ISI. Gupta had served at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad as the Press and Information Secretary. Investigations later revealed that during her posting in Islamabad, she was honey-trapped by Pakistan-based intelligence operatives.
Who Was Madhuri Gupta?
Gupta pursued her studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University before clearing the UPSC examination. She served in several international missions for India in Iraq, Liberia, Malaysia, and Croatia. In 2007, she was posted to Islamabad.
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During her posting in Pakistan, she came in contact with Jamshed, aka ‘Jim’ through a Pakistani Journalist. Her acquaintance with Urdu, interest in poetry and Sufism established contact between them. As the time passed by, their friendship bloomed into a romantic relationship. They both even talked about Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar’s book. Gupta was 52, when she had fallen for 30-year-old Jim.
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What Had She Shared?
She was arrested under the Official Secrets Act by Delhi Police’s Special Branch. According to media reports, Gupta had disclosed information related to the Indian Army, RAW operations, Indo-US intelligence exchanges, and investigation into the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks to ISI. She had even promised to gather information on a hydroelectric project in Jammu and Kashmir in an email.
According to Intelligence agencies, she was dissatisfied with the Indian government over denial of leave and delayed salary. Her emotional vulnerability was exploited by ISI handler Mudassar Raza Rana and his associate.
How Was She Arrested?
The Indian intelligence agencies had already sniffed something wrong in the Islamabad High Commission by 2009. Once the doubts were confirmed, the Indian government called her back to Delhi on the pretext of handling media relations for the SAARC Summit to be held in Bhutan. Following the order, Gupta came to India on 21 April, 2010 and was arrested next morning. Her digital footprint, monitored emails, and suspicious movements led investigators to her.
She was first charged in 2012 under Sections 3 and 5 of the Official Secrets Act. Gupta spent 21 months in Tihar Jail before getting bail. A Delhi court convicted Gupta in 2018 under Sections 3 and 5 of the Official Secrets Act. She was sentenced to three years in jail for passing on sensitive information to Pakistan's spy agency in 2018.
“It is seen that the accused was unable to give such information but her intention of passing on such information and her going to Jammu after giving the false excuse of attending marriage points out her intention of helping the enemy country. She had been giving information regarding various postings of officers of Defence, MEA and HCI as well as their family particulars, which could have caused danger to the life and security to said officers and their family,” the court stated.
Awaiting trial, Gupta lived in Bhiwadi, Rajasthan, until her death in October 2021 at 64.