The India Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested a freelance journalist, Vivek Raghuvanshi, for allegedly collecting sensitive information on the Indian army and sending the information to foreign governments.

The journalist and former navy commander Ashish Pathak were arrested for possessing “secret documents” about the Indian army and Defence Research Development Organisation.

“Raghuvanshi was allegedly collecting confidential information related to India’s defence procurement from various sources and was in contact with several foreign entities/agents/persons,” the CBI said in a statement. 

The CBI seized electronic devices belonging to accused persons and searched the data stored in cloud-based accounts, emails, and social media accounts.

The agency alleged that the journalist has been in contact with foreign entities with which he had entered into agreements to share confidential information for a “substantial amount of money from foreign sources.”

“The scrutiny of devices recovered so far from the possession of accused also revealed that the accused was allegedly collecting confidential information related to India’s defence procurement from different sources and was in contact with several foreign entities, agents, persons and that he had entered into contracts and agreements with several foreign entities for sharing of confidential information,” the agency added. 

Mr Raghuvanshi has been reporting on India’s defence industry for over three decades. His articles have been in local Indian newspapers and foreign newspapers.

The Washington-based National Press Club condemned Mr Raghuvanshi’s arrest and called for his release.

Raghuvanshi the president of the National Press Club, and Gil Klein, the president of the National Press Club Journalism Institute, said in a statement that they were disappointed about the arrest of Mr Raghuvanshi, saying, “We were disappointed to hear of the arrest of journalist Vivek Raghuvanshi in India this week.”

They added, “The charges against him of working with a foreign intelligence service are completely at odds with his well-established professional profile. Vivek has a solid reputation and the respect of his colleagues. We hope his release and these allegations are resolved swiftly, and Vivek is allowed to resume his reporting.”

No fewer than 10 journalists are currently being detained in India. According to the press freedom group Reporters Without Borders, India ranks 161 out of 180 countries in terms of press freedom.