Nagpur: Leela Murlidhar Shende, the mother of Corporal Nikhil Shende, who is accused of being targeted in a honey trap operation by Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), has stated that her son is a patriot and innocent in the matter. The case is currently under investigation by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS).
Cpl Nikhil Shende, a native of Nagpur, is presently stationed at the Indian Air Force (IAF) base in Bengaluru. His name came up during the ATS probe following the arrest of Dr. Pradeep Kurulkar, a senior scientist at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), in an espionage case a few days ago.
Gold Rate
13 May 2025
According to Cpl Nikhil Shende’s mother, he completed his second year of Bachelor of Arts (BA) and joined the IAF in 2015. He was initially posted in Bengaluru and later transferred to Patna. Subsequently, he was transferred back to Bengaluru. Mrs. Shende also mentioned that her son excelled as an athlete and won medals and trophies in various competitions.
Leela Shende became aware of her son’s involvement with the ATS after reading about it in newspapers. She expressed her confidence in her son’s innocence and stated that neither he nor their entire family would engage in any anti-national activities.
In the investigation of the honey trap case involving DRDO scientist Dr. Kurulkar, it was revealed that he was targeted by a woman named Zara Das Gupta, acting on behalf of Pakistani intelligence agencies. The ATS investigating the case informed a Special Court in Pune that Pakistan’s ISI had also attempted to ensnare Cpl Nikhil Shende in a similar honey trap operation. Cpl Shende was questioned by senior IAF officers, and his statement was recorded in court. However, he has not been implicated as an accused in the case thus far.
Investigations have uncovered that the messages sent to both Dr. Kurulkar and Cpl Shende originated from IP addresses in Pakistan, further indicating the involvement of Pakistani elements.
The ATS continues its probe into the honey trap case, aiming to gather more evidence and determine the extent of the involvement of those implicated. Meanwhile, Cpl Nikhil Shende’s family stands firmly by his side, asserting his innocence and patriotism throughout this ordeal.
In addition to Kurulkar, an Indian Air Force (IAF) corporal named Nikhil Shende has also been targeted in a similar honey trap by Pakistani intelligence. Shende, currently stationed in Bangalore, is undergoing interrogation by Air Force officials. He has also provided his statement to the ATS, which has been recorded before the First Class Magistrate at the Shivajinagar Court, informed ATS Senior Police Inspector Sujata Tanwade to the special court.
ATS informed the court that Pakistani intelligence agencies attempted to ensnare Air Force officer Nikhil Shende in a honey trap. Shende is being interrogated by senior Air Force officers in Bangalore, and his statement has been recorded in court. However, he is not implicated as an accused in the case. ATS officials informed the court that technical investigations revealed that the messages sent to Kurulkar and Shende originated from Pakistani IP addresses.
