The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday conducted searches at multiple locations in Gujarat and Maharashtra in the espionage case of Andhra Pradesh.

The case relates to involvement of Pakistani agents in espionage activities in India. Investigation revealed that they had conspired with other accused persons based in Visakhapatnam, Mumbai and Gujarat for gathering sensitive information for conducting terror acts in India, the NIA said in a statement here.

The NIA conducted the searches at four locations in Gujarat and Maharashtra. The case was initially registered as FIR No. 1/2020 dated January 10, 2020 at Police Station Counter Intelligence Cell, Andhra Pradesh, Vijayawada and was later re-registered by NIA on December 23 last year.

 “Indian SIM cards were fraudulently procured and one time passwords (OTPs) were received through their Indian associates for activation of WhatsApp by Pakistan-based handlers which was then used to establish contact with defence personnel to elicit sensitive information related to vital installations,” it said.

The searches were conducted in Godhra, Gujarat and Buldana, Maharashtra at the premises of suspects. During the searches, digital devices, suspicious SIM cards and incriminating documents have been seized. Further investigation in the case is continuing, it said..

In a separate case, the NIA filed a supplementary chargesheet against an accused Shahid Kasam Sumra of Kutch, Gujarat, in NIA Special Court, Ahmedabad in a drugs smuggling case.The case was initially registered by Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS)/Gujarat on August 12, 2018 pertaining to a criminal conspiracy hatched  by accused based in Dubai and Pakistan  for smuggling and distribution of 500 kg of illegal narcotic drugs (heroin) from Pakistan to Gujarat by sea route, the NIA said in a statement.