OTP sharing with Pakistan operatives: WB STF to take accused on remand; grilling by NIA likely

It seems that a multi-agency probe is currently underway as far as the sensitive case of pre-activated SIM cards and the alleged sharing of one-time passwords (OTP) with Pakistani intelligence operatives is concerned which was recently busted by the Odisha Special Task Force (STF).

The STF had arrested many people in connection with the case in the recent past. Moreover, a team of the West Bengal Special Task Force (STF) is likely to take on remand Pathanisamant Lenka who along with two others was initially arrested by the Odisha STF in the case.

Lenka, who worked as a teacher in an Industrial Training Institute (ITI), is now under West Bengal STF scanner after his alleged links with an ISI agent who was arrested from Siligudi in West Bengal in 2022 came to the fore.

The Odisha STF had earlier claimed that Lenka was in touch with a woman PIO agent, who was arrested in an Official Secrets Act/ Honey-Trap case in Rajasthan last year.

The West Bengal STF is likely to take Lenka on a five-day remand for further investigation into the case. Sources said that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) will also quiz Lenka after the completion of the remand period granted to West Bengal STF.

Lenka and another accused Abhijeet Sanjay Jamburee will be interrogated face-to-face by the NIA team in connection with the sensitive case which also has a terrorism and terror funding angle.