Ex-Army officer held for espionage

New Delhi: CBI has arrested a retired Indian Army captain on charges of spying and stealing "highly classified documents".

CBI sources said Salam Singh Rathore was picked up from his residence late on Friday night after a fresh case was registered against him under Officials Secrets Act.

Rathore's residence was raided by the CBI in connection with the War Room Leak case. Sources claimed that the CBI had found highly senstitive documents from his residence, which could not be ignored.

After receiving an opinion from the Army directorate, a case was registered against Rathore, which led to his arrest.

Rathore had taken voluntary retirement from the Army last year.

Rathore came under the CBI scanner when the agency recently carried out raids against arms dealers and agents.

Sources claimed that certain "highly sensitive documents" had been recovered from him. After scrutinising the documents and seeking an opinion from the Defence Ministry, the CBI

arrested Rathore.

So far, CBI has arrested nine people in connection with the leak of information from the war room or Directorate of Naval Operations and associated cases.

They include some retired defence officials like Kulbushan Parashar and retired IAF wing commander S L Surve and Delhi-based businessman Abhishek Verma.

The CBI has also issued an Interpol Red Corner notice against Ravi Shankaran, kin of former navy chief Admiral Arun Prakash, and confiscated his property.

Shankaran is believed to be in Britain.