Indian journalist accused of supplying secrets to China arrested again

The Enforcement Directorate has arrested journalist Rajeev Sharma under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2002. They produced him before a court on Friday and got his custody for seven days.

In a statement on Saturday, the ED claimed that their investigation has found that Sharma supplied confidential and sensitive information to Chinese intelligence in exchange for money, thus “compromising the security and national interests of India”.

Sharma was arrested by the Delhi police in September 2020 and booked under the Officials Secrets Act. He was given bail by the Delhi High Court in December.

Read Newslaundry’s detailed report on Sharma.

According to the ED, Sharma and his alleged associates received the "hawala" money through shell companies run by Chinese nationals and a Nepali. It further alleged that these companies were conduits for Chinese intelligence to pay “persons like Rajeev Sharma indulged in criminal activities”.