A simple friend request on social media, gradual conversations, and eventually extracting critical national security details—the Counter Intelligence wing of Andhra Pradesh Police has exposed a dangerous espionage network operated by Pakistan. At the center of this investigation are the names 'Anvi Mehta' and 'Josita Paul', which security agencies believe were digital personas used to target Indian defense personnel.
The Honeytrap and Fake Profiles Nexus
According to the police probe, 'Josita Pal' posed as an employee of a Mumbai-based shipbuilding firm on Facebook and WhatsApp. She allegedly demanded details regarding naval movements, submarines, and commanding officers, luring personnel with financial incentives. Meanwhile, 'Anvi Mehta' posed as a Delhi-based psychologist, using video and voice calls to honeytrap naval personnel and coax them into revealing sensitive defense installations.
The network relied heavily on fake social media profiles, moving conversations to WhatsApp where emotional manipulation, obscene pictures, and cryptocurrency transactions were used to bind the targets.
Operation Firewall and Arrests
Investigators also discovered that the syndicate utilized Indian mobile numbers and WhatsApp OTPs to operate accounts from Pakistan. Under 'Operation Firewall-2026', police identified 18 suspects, including 13 naval personnel. Two individuals—Visakhapatnam naval base employee Pradeep Mukherjee and contract driver Annam Sai Varaprasad—have been arrested for allegedly passing sensitive information to Pakistan-linked operatives.
'The Freelance' does not independently verify the claims of ongoing police investigations shared via social and news reports. This case is part of active national security probes. Credits: Police briefings and media inputs.
