ED says journalist Rajeev Sharma supplied info to Chinese Intelligence officers in exchange for money

NEW DELHI: Journalist Rajeev Sharma, who was arrested by Delhi police in September of 2019 for alleged espionage for China, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday for alleged money laundering. The ED has secured his seven-day custody from a special court.

The ED says that Sharma allegedly received cash through hawala by Mahipalpur-based shell companies that were run by Chinese nationals Zhang Cheng alias Suraj, Zhang Lixia alias Usha and Quing Shi along with a Nepalese national Sher Singh alias Raj Bohara.

“During investigation, it was revealed that Rajeev Sharma had supplied confidential and sensitive information to Chinese Intelligence officers in exchange for remuneration thereby compromising the security and national interests of India,” ED said in a statement.

“Apart from cash, huge transactions were made with various Chinese companies and some other trading companies in India which are being examined. These Chinese companies were acting as a conduit for the Chinese Intelligence agencies to provide remuneration for persons like Rajeev Sharma indulged in criminal activities. Rajeev Sharma also received money through benami bank accounts in order to conceal his involvement in criminal activities,” the ED statement said.

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The Delhi Police has accused Sharma of passing sensitive information about India’s border strategy and Army deployment to Chinese intelligence.

Sharma was writing on defense-related issues for some Indian media organizations, as well as China’s Global Times.

Sharma allegedly got Rs 40 lakh in one-and-a-half years and he was getting USD 1,000 for each information.

Sharma was arrested on September 14, 2020, based on inputs from central intelligence. Police have seized classified defence documents from him.

A Chinese woman and her Nepalese associate have also been arrested for allegedly paying Sharma large amounts of money routed through shell companies.

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