Udupi police arrest two UP men for sharing info on Indian Navy ships with Pakistan

Santri, 37, was among two persons arrested by Udupi police on November 20, 2025, for alleged sharing with Pakistanis classified information about Indian naval ships in Udupi and Kochi shipyards.
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Special Arrangement

Udupi police have arrested two persons hailing from Uttar Pradesh on the charge of sharing with Pakistan sensitive information of Indian Navy ships being built in the Udupi Cochin Shipyard and in Kochi Shipyard of the Cochin Shipyard Limited.

Udupi Superintendent of Police Hariram Shankar gave the names of the arrested persons as Rohit, 29, and Santri, 37, both from Sultanpur district in Uttar Pradesh.

They were arrested from a room in Udupi on November 20. They were produced in the jurisdictional court, which remanded them to 14 days of judicial custody.

Mr. Shankar told reporters in Udupi on November 21 that Rohit earlier worked in Kochi Shipyard. He moved to Udupi Shipyard six months ago. Santri worked in Kochi Shipyard. Both were working as ‘insulators’ on contractual basis. They are employees of Shushma Marine Private Limited, which has a sub-contract with Cochin Shipyard Limited.

While working in Kochi Shipyard, Rohit illegally shared, via WhatsApp and Facebook, with Pakistani people the confidential list of identification numbers and other classified information about the Indian Navy ships being built at Kochi Shipyard. After moving to Udupi, he shared information about naval ships in Udupi Shipyard. In addition, he also shared information he received from Santri about naval ships in Kochi yard.

The two are accused of engaging in activities, which could endanger the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India, and pose a threat to internal security.

On November 19, the CEO of Udupi Cochin Shipyard filed a complaint with the Malpe police in Udupi, who registered a case for offences punishableunder Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and Sections 3 and 5 of the Official Secrets Act.

A team led by Assistant Superintendent of Police Harsha Priyamvada and Police Sub-Inspector D. Anil Kumar arrested the duo on November 20. They were produced before the jurisdictional magistrate, who remanded them to judicial custody.

The SP said Rohit had been found sharing sensitive classified information about naval ships for the last 18 months. “Seeing the multiple times Rohit has received money, it appears that he is the main accused,” Mr. Shankar said.

On November 22, the police will apply to the court for custody of the two persons. They will look for other persons allegedly associated with the two arrested persons. The firm that recruited the two arrested persons will also be questioned.

Udupi district police is handling the case under the supervision of Mr. Priyamvada. National investigation agencies will be joining the investigation in the coming days, he said.