Police conduct raids at accused’s properties at Jammu

Jammu, July 11: Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP) Thursday conducted searches at the properties and locations, owned and associated with the person arrested under the provisions of Official Secrets Act (OSA), 1923, on July 10 at Jammu.

According to police, search warrants were obtained from the court.

“Raids and searches were conducted at the properties of Tarun Behl, son of Bal Krishan Behl, resident of House no 101, Sector 6 Channi Himmat, Jammu in connection with the investigation of case FIR no 80/2024 under Sections 3/5 Official Secrets Act 1923, 49/353 BNSS of Police Station Channi Himmat,” a police spokesperson said.

According to police, Behl has been arrested for offences which are related to “extracting sensitive and secret information and sharing such information which is highly detrimental to the security concerns of the State and further use it to spread disaffection within the government for narrow private interests of vested quarters.”

“The act of the accused also amounted to incite persons to commit any offence against another class or section of society. During the course of investigation, search warrants were obtained from the court and searches were conducted at the house of Tarun Behl situated at Channi Himmat and International British School, Chowadhi,” police said.

“During searches, following the due process of law, some electronic gadgets and documents were seized in presence of duty magistrates and independent witnesses,” police added.

Behl is presently on 4-day police remand.

On Wednesday, police arrested him after registering a case, under the Official Secrets Act (OSA), 1923, in Jammu district.

“Police Station Channi Himmat, Jammu received an information through reliable sources that a secret document issued by Police Headquarters, containing details with regard to security is in circulation in WhatsApp group, ’The Sree Times’ and ’Aasman’ newspaper, handled by one Tarun Behl with malafide intention to spread misinformation,” police had said.

An FIR No 80/2024 U/S 3/5 Official Secrets Act 1923,49/353 BNS (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita) was registered in Police Station Channi Himmat and investigation was taken up.