Ludhiana Spy Case: Shopkeeper Arrested Over Alleged CCTV Feeds Sent to Pakistan

A suspected espionage operation has been uncovered in Punjab’s Ludhiana, where police have arrested a 22-year-old shopkeeper accused of allegedly providing live visual information to handlers based in Pakistan. Investigators say the man used CCTV cameras installed outside a rented shop to monitor activity in the area and transmit the footage to his alleged contacts across the border.

The arrest was carried out jointly by Ludhiana Commissionerate Police and the Ludhiana Counter Intelligence unit following information received by authorities on August 27. The case has raised security concerns because the cameras were reportedly positioned to capture activity along a road leading toward an area of strategic importance.

According to the information released by investigators, the accused has been identified as Rachpal Singh. He was operating a shoe shop on the Ludhiana-Firozpur Road. Police allege that the shop was taken on rent specifically on the instructions of his Pakistan-based handlers rather than for normal commercial activity.

Shop Located Near Strategic Facility

Investigators said the rented premises were approximately six kilometres from the Badhowal ammunition depot. The location reportedly gave the accused an opportunity to observe movements in an area considered strategically sensitive.

The shop was being maintained at a monthly rent of around ₹40,000. Police became suspicious because the business was reportedly not performing particularly well, yet the premises continued to be maintained. Another factor that attracted attention was the repeated adjustment of the CCTV cameras installed outside the shop.

The cameras were reportedly directed toward the road rather than being used simply for conventional shop security. Authorities now suspect that their positioning allowed information about movements in the surrounding area to be observed remotely.

Two CCTV Cameras Allegedly Used for Surveillance

According to the investigation details, two China-made CCTV cameras were installed outside the premises and pointed toward the roadside. Police allege that the footage from these cameras was made available to handlers in Pakistan in real time.

The suspected arrangement meant that people outside India could allegedly watch developments in the area without being physically present. Investigators believe the surveillance was intended to collect information that could be useful to Pakistan-based intelligence operatives.

Police also suspect that the alleged network was interested in information connected with military activity. The investigation is examining what material may have been observed or transmitted through the surveillance setup.

Alleged Payment for the Operation

Investigators have also alleged that Singh received approximately ₹3 lakh from his Pakistan-based handlers for carrying out the activity. The payment, according to the information released in connection with the case, was linked to his role in maintaining the surveillance arrangement.

The alleged financial arrangement is among the aspects being examined as authorities work to establish the full extent of the suspected network and identify any additional individuals who may have been involved.

Police Suspect Larger Conspiracy

Counter Intelligence AIG Simrat Pal Singh Dhindsa said during questioning, the accused allegedly disclosed that he had taken the shop on the instructions of his handlers in Pakistan. Authorities are investigating whether the surveillance operation was connected to a broader plan targeting Ludhiana.

Police suspect that Pakistani agencies may have been attempting to gather information ahead of a possible major attack in the city. However, the exact nature of any planned operation and the extent of the information allegedly collected remain part of the investigation.

The case also highlights how ordinary commercial locations can potentially be used for covert surveillance. A poorly performing business, when combined with unusual equipment placement and unexplained expenses, reportedly became one of the factors that drew investigators’ attention.

Joint Investigation Underway

The arrest represents the first major action publicly reported in connection with the suspected Ludhiana espionage setup. The Counter Intelligence team and local police are now expected to examine the accused’s communications, financial transactions and connections with his alleged overseas handlers.

Investigators will also seek to determine how long the CCTV system was operational, what locations or movements were captured, and whether any sensitive information was transmitted beyond India.

The authorities’ immediate focus is likely to be on establishing the complete chain behind the alleged surveillance operation and determining whether others assisted Singh. The investigation could provide further details about the suspected Pakistan-linked network as questioning and evidence analysis continue.

For now, police allegations remain central to the case, and the investigation will determine the precise role played by the arrested shopkeeper and the extent of the information allegedly shared with Pakistan-based contacts.