In a serious breach of national security, Mahendra Prasad, the manager of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) guest house located at the Pokhran Field Firing Range in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer, has been detained on charges of suspected espionage. Authorities believe he may have shared sensitive information with Pakistan.
Prasad, a resident of Almora in Uttarakhand, was taken into custody late Monday night by Indian security agencies following sustained surveillance and intelligence inputs. Given the high-security nature of his posting, the incident has raised alarm within the defence establishment.
The Pokhran Field Firing Range is a strategic defence facility, frequently visited by senior Indian Army officials and DRDO scientists for weapons testing and military exercises. Prasad has been managing the guest house since 2018, a tenure during which he came in contact with several high-ranking defence personnel.
According to preliminary investigations, Prasad allegedly received a suspicious phone call in 2020 from an unknown number, reportedly originating from Pakistan. During his initial questioning, he admitted to sending a slip containing the schedules of guest visits to the facility. However, he has denied passing any additional information and claimed it was a one-time mistake.
Jaisalmer Superintendent of Police Abhishek Shivhare confirmed the detention, stating that the suspect would be handed over to the Joint Interrogation Committee for further questioning. “His phone data is currently under forensic analysis, and we are trying to recover communications that could establish intent or further links to espionage networks,” an official familiar with the case said.
Intelligence sources revealed that Prasad had been under watch after investigators detected several calls made to and from Pakistan on his mobile phone. The case has brought renewed attention to the vulnerabilities of India’s long and sensitive western border, especially in Rajasthan, which shares over 1,000 kilometres of international boundary with Pakistan.
The region is home to multiple strategic defence installations, including airbases, army cantonments, and test sites. Intelligence agencies remain on high alert, monitoring unusual activities from Hindumalkot in Sri Ganganagar district to Bakhasar in Barmer.
This incident is not isolated. Since March 2025, Rajasthan has witnessed a series of espionage-related arrests, reflecting growing concerns about infiltration and surveillance targeting defence personnel and installations.
Among those arrested earlier was Pathan Khan, held under the Official Secrets Act near Chandan Field Firing Range on March 26. In May, Mohammad Qasim, 32, from Deeg, was picked up by the Delhi Police Special Cell after his return from Pakistan. His brother, Mohammad Haseen, was arrested on May 30 for allegedly being in contact with a Pakistani Embassy official.
In another high-profile case, CRPF Assistant Sub-Inspector Motiram Jat was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for leaking classified documents. Also, Shakoor Khan, a long-time employee of the Jaisalmer Employment Office and former personal assistant to minister Saleh Mohammad Khan, was detained on May 28 and formally arrested in early June.
Authorities are tightening security measures around key defence locations across the state, particularly in border districts. Increased surveillance, stringent personnel vetting, and enhanced intelligence operations are being deployed to counter the threat of internal leaks and cross-border espionage.
Security officials say these arrests underscore the persistent efforts by foreign intelligence agencies to infiltrate India’s defence network through low-profile civilian employees with access to sensitive infrastructure.
As investigations into Mahendra Prasad’s activities continue, security agencies remain cautious. His device analysis and interrogation findings are expected to shed further light on the possible extent of data shared and the nature of contacts established across the border.
