Australian Media Reports on Expulsion of Indian Spies
In 2020, Australian authorities expelled two Indian spies suspected of attempting to steal classified information related to sensitive defense projects, airport security, and trade relationships. The Australian and The Sydney Morning Herald reported the incident, while the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) did not specify the number of spies involved.
The expelled spies were allegedly part of a larger network monitored by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO). This network was also accused of closely observing the Indian diaspora in Australia and developing relationships with current and former politicians.
The reports surfaced a day after The Washington Post published an article alleging that an Indian RAW official plotted to assassinate Sikh extremist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil in 2022. India dismissed the report as "unwarranted and unsubstantiated."
The Washington Post also mentioned the expulsion of two RAW officers from Australia in 2020. ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess alluded to the spy ring in his 2021 annual threat assessment, highlighting their attempts to obtain classified information and cultivate an Australian government official with security clearance for access to sensitive defense technology.