A Delhi-based journalist was arrested for his alleged links with Chinese intelligence officers.
Two other accused were also arrested for paying him large amounts of money routed through shell companies.Rajeev Sharma, a freelance journalist, is a resident of Pitampura in New Delhi.
He was taken into police custody on September 14 after a search was conducted at his residence on Saturday (September 19).During the raids, the Delhi Police Special Cell confiscated one laptop, some confidential documents related to the Indian Defence department and some other incriminating documents that were found in Rajeev Sharma's possession.At a press conference, Special Cell DCP Sanjeev Kumar Yadav said that the police is investigating what information Rajeev Sharma had allegedly passed on to the Chinese intelligence officers through his social media accounts and email ID.Police said that the 61-year-old journalist, who has been booked under the Official Secrets Act, had also been asked by the Chinese intelligence officers to provide information related to Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama."A secret input was recently received from an intelligence agency that Rajeev Sharma is having links with foreign intelligence officers and he has been receiving funds from his handler through illegal meansfor conveying sensitive information which concerns national security and foreign relations," police said.During interrogation, it was found that a Chinese national, Qing Shi (30), and her Nepalese associate, Sher Singh alias Raj Bohra (30), were providing him huge amounts of money routed through Hawala channels for conveying sensitive information to Chinese intelligence.Rajeev Sharma told police about his involvement in the procurement of sensitive information and conveying the same to his Chinese handlers -- Michael and George -- who are based in Kunming, China.Rajeev Sharma operated through different digital channels, police said.In the past, Rajeev Sharma had sent several documents in the form of reports to his handlers and received a handsome remuneration for the same, police said.Between 2010 and 2014, Rajeev Sharma wrote a weekly column for Global Times, widely known as a mouthpiece of the Chinese government.Observing those columns, one Chinese intelligence agent named Michael from Kunming city of China contacted Rajeev Sharma through his Linkedin account and invited him to Kunming for an interview in a Chinese media company, police said.The entire trip was funded by Michael.During the meeting, Michael and his junior, Xou, asked Rajeev Sharma to provide inputs on various aspects of India-China relations.Between 2016 and 2018, Rajeev Sharma was in contact with Michael and Xou.
He was tasked to provide information on issues like the Indian deployment on the Bhutan-Sikkim-China tri-junction including Doklam, the pattern of India-Myanmar military co-operation, India-China boundary issue among other matters.Subsequently, Rajeev Sharma met Michael and Xou in Laos and Maldives and briefed them on these topics.Besides these visits, Rajeev Sharma was also in contact with Michael and Xou through e-mail and social media.In January 2019, Rajeev Sharma had come in contact with another Kunming-based Chinese entity -- George.
He visited Kunming via Kathmandu and met George there.George was introduced as a General Manager of a Chinese Media Company.
During the meeting, he asked Rajeev Sharma to write about Dalai Lama-related issues.
For this, Rajeev Sharma was offered $500 dollars per article.George told Rajeev Sharma that his company will send him money through a sister company based in Mahipalpur in Delhi.
This company was operated by Qing Shi (30).Rajeev Sharma received more than Rs 30 lakh from George in around 10 instalments from January 2019 to September 2020.Later, he met George in Malaysia and again in Kunming.During the investigation, it was revealed that shell companies were also being operated by foreign intelligence to transfer funds to Rajeev Sharma.Two Chinese nationals -- Jhang Chang and his wife Chang-li-lia -- were running the companies, MZ Pharmacy and MZ Malls, under fake names -- Suraj and Usha.They are both in China and on their behalf, Qing Shi and one Raj Bhora, a Nepali national (both directors of MZ Pharmacy), were operating the business from Mahipalpur.Qing Shi and Sher Singh alias Raj Bohra (30) have also been arrested.Further investigation with respect to the Chinese shell companies based in Mahipalpur is in progress.The identities and roles of other foreign nationals involved in the conspiracy are yet to be ascertained.327 VIDEOS ON RAJEEV SHARMA'S YOUTUBE CHANNELRajeev Sharma, who has been booked under Official Secrets Act, uploaded over 300 videos on several issues, including on India-China relations, on his YouTube channel since December.According to information available on his YouTube channel Rajeev Kishkindha, it was created on December 17, 2019, and has over 12,000 subscribers.
He also has nearly 6,33,600 views on his channel.There are 327 videos on his channel in which he discusses many topics, including international issues.On September 14, the day he was arrested by the Delhi Police's Special Cell, Sharma had posted his last video on India-China face-off.(With inputs from PTI)