Navy dockyard worker arrested after Saudi Arabia deportation in espionage case

K. Srinivas, who worked at the Visakhapatnam naval dockyard, was taken into custody after being deported from Saudi Arabia in connection with an ongoing espionage investigation. Authorities alleged that he unlawfully shared confidential information pertaining to ships and submarines based at the facility with an unidentified woman claiming to represent a Dubai-based shipping firm.

The case, registered in 2025, centres on allegations that Srinivas compromised sensitive defence infrastructure details through his communications with the woman. Investigators believe the individual was part of a coordinated effort to obtain classified naval intelligence from the eastern coastal facility.

The naval dockyard at Visakhapatnam, one of India's key defence installations, manufactures and maintains warships for the Indian Navy. The facility is heavily guarded, and breaches of its security protocols are treated with utmost severity by defence authorities.

The arrest marks a significant development in the investigation. Authorities have not disclosed details regarding the extent of information allegedly transmitted or the identity of the woman involved in the case. Further questioning of Srinivas is expected to yield additional leads in the ongoing probe.