New Delhi: A Delhi court has directed a deputy commissioner of police to monitor the expeditious processing of sanction to prosecute Wing Commander Manorath Singh Sabharwal, who was arrested on allegations of sharing sensitive Indian Air Force (IAF) information with Pakistani intelligence operatives.Chief judicial magistrate (CJM) Mridul Gupta issued the directions after the prosecution informed it that the sanction under section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), as required under section 217 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and sanction for offences under the Official Secrets Act were still pending.“Let report as to the same be filed by DCP concerned under his signatures by the next date of hearing, considering the delay already caused in the present matter,” magistrate Gupta said. The matter is listed for Dec 5.Recently, a chargesheet was filed by police alleging that Sabharwal was found in contact with a Pakistani intelligence operative through a honeytrap between Jan and April 2026 and shared sensitive information concerning fighter aircraft deployment, military exercises and a confidential drone unit.He allegedly also installed malware or spyware in the mobile phones of five subordinate officers, potentially compromising sensitive data.The court direction came after the defence counsel opposed the prosecution’s submission, highlighting the considerable delay in obtaining the requisite sanctions.The counsel of the accused officer also questioned the necessity of obtaining a sanction under the Official Secrets Act. After hearing the submissions, the court directed that a report on the progress of the sanction process be filed by the next date of hearing.The court also ordered the issuing of production warrants against the accused for the next hearing and issued a show-cause notice to the jail superintendent over his non-production before the court on the day of proceedings.On Dec 5, the court is likely to take cognisance of the chargesheet, while directing that the accused be produced through video conferencing every 14 days.
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