Panipat Police Uncover Extensive Evidence Against Alleged Pakistani Spy Noman Ilahi

Superintendent of Police Bhupender Singh announced during a media briefing on Wednesday that forensic examination of Ilahi's mobile phone had uncovered a lengthy trail of chats and voice messages with his Pakistani handler, Iqbal Kana, despite the accused's attempts to delete the incriminating evidence.

"On the basis of the evidence, the Panipat police will soon produce the chargesheet against him in the court," SP Singh stated while addressing journalists. He emphasized that investigators had recovered sufficient proof of Ilahi's alleged espionage activities to proceed with formal charges. The investigation revealed that Ilahi, described as a matriculate, had maintained regular contact with his handler over an extended period. "We recovered the mobile phone from him, but he had deleted the call chats and other details. The phone has been sent to a forensic laboratory to retrieve the data," Singh explained, highlighting the sophisticated effort to recover deleted communications.

According to police findings, Ilahi had allegedly been conducting espionage operations for approximately two years, during which he reportedly supplied sensitive information regarding Army movements to his Pakistani contacts. The relationship with handler Iqbal Kana reportedly began during a visit to Pakistan, where Ilahi had traveled to meet his aunts.

The scope of the investigation expanded when agencies accompanied Ilahi to his hometown in Uttar Pradesh, where they made significant discoveries. During the search operation, investigators seized six passports and a Pakistani identity card belonging to Iqbal Kana, which had been prepared under the alternative name of Siddiqi.

The recovery of multiple identity documents suggests a more complex espionage network than initially suspected, indicating that Kana may have been operating under various aliases to facilitate cross-border intelligence operations. 

SP Singh's confirmation that sufficient evidence exists against Ilahi marks a significant development in the case, as authorities prepare to move forward with formal legal proceedings. The forensic analysis of deleted communications demonstrates the lengths to which suspected spies go to conceal their activities and the capabilities of law enforcement agencies to retrieve crucial evidence.

The case highlights ongoing concerns about cross-border espionage activities and the vulnerability of individuals who travel between India and Pakistan for personal reasons, potentially making them targets for recruitment by intelligence handlers.

With the chargesheet preparation in its final stages, the case is expected to proceed to court soon, where the full extent of the alleged espionage network and its impact on national security will be examined in detail.