In a significant turn of events, a former Indian Air Force official, Ranjith K K, accused of sharing confidential information with operatives suspected to be linked to Pakistan’s ISI, has been granted bail by Additional Sessions Judge Aparna Swami. Ranjith, a Leading Aircraftman in the IAF, had been in custody for more than seven years, having allegedly fallen prey to a “honeytrap” orchestrated by intelligence operatives.
The judge, taking into account Ranjith’s lengthy incarceration and various aspects of the case, sanctioned his release, noting that he had already spent nearly half the maximum sentence prescribed for the alleged offence under Section 3 of the Official Secrets Act, which carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in jail.
Advocates Akash Vajpai and Javed Ali, representing Ranjith, argued that a meticulous examination of the case records revealed no delay caused by the accused in the trial proceedings. The defense also pointed out that the majority of the material witnesses had been examined, with only 12 witnesses—police officials—remaining, asserting that these individuals were unlikely to be influenced by the accused.
The judge, considering Ranjith’s conduct in jail, described it as “satisfactory” and highlighted his lack of prior criminal involvement. With the trial’s conclusion likely to take more time due to pending witness examinations, the court, guided by Supreme Court directives, deemed Ranjith eligible for bail due to his substantial period of incarceration.
Ranjith, a native of Malappuram district in Kerala, had joined the Indian Air Force in 2010 and was charged under the Official Secrets Act. Prosecutors alleged that Ranjith had been deceived by a cyber entity, ‘Damini McNaught,’ posing as an executive of a UK-based media firm. Under the guise of seeking Air Force-related information for an article, Ranjith purportedly shared confidential details such as IAF exercises, aircraft movements, and unit deployment in exchange for monetary benefits.
The prosecution further revealed that Ranjith had received Voice Over Internet Protocol-based calls from a person claiming to be Damini McNaught, who eventually assigned him the task of gathering additional sensitive information.
The bail grant comes amidst the ongoing legal proceedings, shedding light on the complexities and extended duration of such cases. Ranjith’s release on bail after his lengthy incarceration marks a pivotal development, prompting discussions about the nuances of espionage cases and the challenges surrounding their adjudication in court.
Sources By Agencies
