Love, marriage and an Instagram ‘agent’: How Delhi couple landed in Pak espionage case

In 2024, a Delhi couple, Sahil and Sameera, found themselves entangled in a Pakistan-based espionage case. The pair, who had married in 2024 after meeting in 2022, were arrested by the Delhi Police Special Cell for alleged links to a Pakistani intelligence network.

According to police, Sameera, a Noida call centre employee, had contacted a Pakistani ‘agent’ on Instagram. The agent then introduced Sahil, a lawyer’s assistant, to his future wife. The ‘agent’ reportedly told the couple that there was financial gain to be made through their involvement.

The 'job' assigned to the couple was to procure Indian SIM cards for use by ISI-linked men. Between 2024 and 2025, Sahil and Sameera reportedly sent eight Indian SIM cards to Pakistan via Dubai, receiving Rs 30,000 for each transaction from their Pakistani handlers.

The SIM cards were activated on WhatsApp accounts in Pakistan, which were subsequently used by the Pakistan-based operatives (PIOs) to solicit sensitive information from Indians. The couple was also allegedly tasked with scouting cantonment areas in India to gather details about Army personnel who had been court marshalled or were facing cases with the Army Tribunal. Additionally, they were told to recruit operatives like themselves.

The Special Cell managed to trace the source of these SIM cards from Pakistan, leading them to Sahil, who was subsequently arrested from his residence in Nizammudin. Further forensic analysis of their mobile phones revealed incriminating conversations, including WhatsApp chats between Sahil, Sameera, and their Pakistani handlers. These communications typically took place through encrypted communication platforms, with Pakistan-based handlers coordinating with over-ground workers or sleeper cells.