Indian journalist arrested for  passing sensitive information to China

A freelance journalist based in India's capital has been arrested for allegedly passing "sensitive information" to Chinese intelligence officers for several years_ local media reported on Saturday. Rajeev Sharma_ 61_ has worked for several Indian news organizations and was most recently associated with Vivekananda International Foundation_ a New Delhi-based think tank_ whose founding director is Ajit Doval_ India's National Security Advisor. Along with Sharma_ a Chinese woman_ Qing Shi_ and Raj Bohra_ from Nepal_ were arrested for allegedly supplying the Indian journalist with money through shell companies in return for passing on sensitive information. Sharma is accused of taking more than 3 million Indian rupees from his handlers in exchange for the sensitive information. Sharma was arrested under the Official Secrets Act_ a colonial-era law. If proven guilty_ he may face up to 14 years in prison. Delhi police said on Saturday that they had seized confidential Defense Ministry documents from Sharma's residence.  On interrogation_ Rajeev Sharma has disclosed his involvement in procurement of secret/sensitive information and further conveying the same to his Chinese handlers_ Delhi s Deputy Commissioner of Police Sanjeev Kumar Yadav said in the statement. Police said that during probe_ it was found that shell companies were being operated by foreign intelligence to transfer money to Mr. Sharma. It was also revealed_ police claimed_ that the companies were being run by Jhang Chang and his wife Chnag-li-la under fake names as Suraj and Usha who are both in China and on their behalf_ Qing Shi and Sher Singh were running the companies. The arrest comes amid heightened tensions between India and China at their border in the Himalayan region. The relationship between the neighbours has worsened since a clash in June that India says of 20 of its troops were killed.