August 5, 2025 — A major security breach has been uncovered in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer district, where Mahendra Prasad, a manager at a Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) guest house, has been detained on suspicion of leaking highly sensitive military information to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
According to officials, Prasad, a resident of Almora in Uttarakhand, was posted as the manager of a DRDO guest house near the Chandan Field Firing Range, a location frequently used by senior DRDO scientists and military officials for weapons testing and strategic operations. The area is considered highly sensitive due to its proximity to the India-Pakistan border and its role in national defense activities.
Security agencies had been monitoring Prasad’s activities for several weeks after receiving intelligence inputs indicating possible espionage. Investigators reportedly detected a series of suspicious phone calls made to and received from Pakistan. On Monday night, he was apprehended by intelligence officials after further surveillance confirmed his communication with suspected foreign handlers.
During a preliminary search, authorities recovered incriminating evidence, including call logs and chat records that allegedly link Prasad to ISI operatives. It is suspected that he shared classified information related to Indian Army and Air Force movements, as well as DRDO’s weapons testing data. The mobile number used to send the information across the border is believed to have been provided by Pakistani intelligence agents operating within India.
Officials have confirmed that Prasad will be handed over to a Joint Interrogation Committee (JIC) for extensive questioning. The JIC comprises personnel from the Intelligence Bureau (IB), Military Intelligence (MI), and other central security agencies.
“This is a serious breach at a highly strategic location,” said a senior intelligence official. “The fact that someone in a seemingly non-technical post had access to and shared such sensitive data shows the evolving nature of insider threats.”
The Ministry of Defence has not released an official statement but sources indicate that a high-level review of security protocols at DRDO guest houses and test facilities has been initiated. Intelligence sources also suggest that this may be part of a broader ISI operation targeting Indian defense infrastructure, with more arrests likely in the coming weeks.
The Chandan Field Firing Range is known for hosting classified military exercises and weapons testing, including joint trials by the Army, Air Force, and DRDO teams. Any compromise of information related to activities at this location is considered a direct threat to India’s strategic capabilities.
This incident comes amid heightened tensions along the western border, and the arrest has triggered calls for stricter surveillance and background checks for all personnel stationed at high-security defense locations.
As the investigation continues, national security agencies remain on high alert, and further disclosures are expected in the coming days.
