Freelance journalist held for having secret defence papers

Freelance journalist Rajeev Sharma has been arrested by the Special Cell in a case under the Official Secrets Act and is being interrogated, Delhi Police said on Friday.

"He was found to be in possession of some defence-related classified documents," Sanjeev Yadav, DCP, Special Cell, said.

Sharma, a senior journalist who worked for various newspapers and news agencies, was arrested on Monday and was produced the next day before a Delhi court, which sent him to six-day police custody.

After his arrest, the Delhi Police seized his laptop, his mobile phone and are scanning his call detail records to know with whom he was in contact.

Sources said that Delhi Police got secret information about his involvement in procurement of classified documents and hence he was arrested by the Special Cell under the Official Secrets Act.

The Special Cell is interrogating him to know how he procured classified defence-related documents and if there is an involvement of more people.

Following his arrest, his Twitter account is flashing a message that the account showed suspicious activity and hence, has been restricted.

Sharma was also supposed to be one of the many victims of the alleged Pegasus snooping.