*August 29* — In a significant move against espionage, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has carried out extensive searches across seven states in India related to the Pakistan-led Visakhapatnam espionage case. On Wednesday, NIA teams executed raids at 16 locations in Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Haryana.The searches targeted premises linked to suspects who allegedly received funds from Pakistan to engage in espionage activities within India. During the raids, the NIA seized 22 mobile phones and a substantial quantity of sensitive documents. This operation follows the NIA’s takeover of the case in July 2023, originally registered by the Andhra Pradesh Counter Intelligence Cell in January 2021.The case revolves around the leakage of classified information related to the Indian Navy, which was reportedly part of a broader anti-India conspiracy orchestrated from Pakistan. Earlier, on July 19, 2023, the NIA filed a chargesheet against two individuals, including the absconding Pakistani national Meer Balaj Khan. Investigations revealed Khan and an arrested accused, Akash Solanki, were integral to the espionage network.Further action included a supplementary chargesheet filed on November 6, 2023, against Manmohan Surendra Panda and Alven. While Panda has been arrested, Alven, identified as a Pakistani Intelligence Operative, remains at large. In May 2024, a second supplementary chargesheet was filed against Amaan Salim Shaikh, another accused alleged to be conspiring with Pakistani intelligence operatives.The investigation into this high-profile espionage case is ongoing.