List Of 10 Most Notorious Indian Spies And Their Courageous Stories

The world of espionage is shrouded in secrecy, danger, and extraordinary courage. Behind India's national security stand brave individuals who operated in the shadows, risking everything for their country. These intelligence officers have played crucial roles in safeguarding India's interests, yet their stories remain largely untold due to the covert nature of their work.

This article explores the remarkable journeys of ten notorious Indian spies whose intelligence operations shaped history. From gathering critical information during wars to infiltrating enemy territory, these individuals demonstrated exceptional bravery, quick thinking, and unwavering patriotism.

1. Ravindra Kaushik: The Black Tiger

Ravindra Kaushik stands as perhaps India's most famous spy, earning the code name "Black Tiger" from the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). In one of India's most ambitious intelligence operations, Kaushik underwent extensive training in Delhi, mastering Urdu, Islamic religious practices, and Pakistani customs.

At just 23 years old, Kaushik was sent to Pakistan in 1975, where he established a new identity as Nabi Ahmed Shakir. He successfully enrolled in Karachi University, later joining the Pakistani Army and rising to the rank of major. For nearly 16 years, Kaushik transmitted valuable military intelligence to India before being exposed in 1983.

His capture led to torture and imprisonment in Mianwali jail, where he spent his remaining years before passing away in 2001 from pulmonary tuberculosis. Despite his tragic end, Kaushik's contributions to India's intelligence gathering were immeasurable.

What many don't know is that Kaushik was originally a theater actor in Rajasthan, specifically recruited for his exceptional acting skills. His handler once described him as "a man who lived and died for his country in absolute anonymity." During his service, he reportedly provided intelligence that helped India anticipate and counter multiple Pakistani military initiatives, potentially preventing armed conflicts on several occasions.

2. Kashmir Singh: The 35-Year Prisoner

Kashmir Singh's story exemplifies extraordinary resilience in the face of extreme adversity. Recruited by Indian intelligence in the early 1970s, Singh conducted operations in Pakistan before being captured in 1973.

Charged with espionage, Singh was sentenced to death, but his punishment was later commuted to life imprisonment. For 35 grueling years, he endured harsh conditions in Pakistani prisons, maintaining unwavering silence about his mission despite intense interrogation.

After diplomatic interventions and humanitarian appeals, Singh was finally released in 2008. Upon returning to India, he received a hero's welcome and financial compensation from the Punjab government, though it could hardly make up for the decades lost in captivity.

Remarkably, throughout his 35 years in prison, Singh never admitted to being an Indian spy, maintaining his cover story even when all hope seemed lost. After his release, he revealed that he had been kept in solitary confinement for the first 17 years of his imprisonment. His survival technique included creating mental puzzles and mathematical problems to keep his mind sharp. Former Pakistani Federal Minister for Human Rights Ansar Burney, who helped secure Singh's release, stated that when he first met Singh, the former spy was "barely recognizable as human" after decades of neglect and mistreatment.

3. Saraswathi Rajamani: The Teenage Freedom Fighter Spy

Saraswathi Rajamani broke barriers as one of India's earliest female spies, beginning her intelligence career at just 16 years old. During India's struggle for independence, she joined Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's Indian National Army (INA) and worked undercover gathering intelligence from British officers.

Disguised as a male servant, Rajamani infiltrated British households and military installations, collecting vital information about military movements and strategies. Her most daring mission occurred when she rescued a fellow operative who had been captured, showcasing both her courage and quick thinking.

Despite her tremendous contributions, Rajamani lived most of her life in anonymity until receiving recognition from the Indian government in her later years. Her story represents the often-overlooked role of women in India's intelligence operations.

Born into a wealthy family in Burma (now Myanmar), Rajamani's patriotism emerged at a startlingly young age. At just 10 years old, she reportedly shot a bullet just over the head of a British official who had spoken disparagingly about Indian freedom fighters, telling him, "Next time, my aim will be an inch lower." Her family's considerable wealth allowed them to avoid serious consequences from this bold act. When joining the INA, she led a small band of women spies called the Rani of Jhansi Regiment, all of whom dressed as boys to avoid detection. After independence, she continued to serve the nation by rescuing children during the devastating Chennai floods, demonstrating that her commitment to saving lives extended beyond her espionage career.

4. Mohanlal Bhaskar: The Author Spy

Mohanlal Bhaskar's unique legacy comes not only from his espionage work but also from documenting his experiences. Deployed to Pakistan in the 1960s, Bhaskar succeeded in gathering significant intelligence before being captured in 1966.

Enduring four years of torture and imprisonment, Bhaskar was finally released following the 1971 Indo-Pak War. Unlike most intelligence operatives who maintain lifelong silence, Bhaskar chronicled his experiences in his memoir "Main Pakistan Mein Bharat Ka Jasoos Tha" (I was India's spy in Pakistan).

His account provided rare insights into the perilous world of espionage and the severe consequences faced by captured operatives. Bhaskar's literary contribution stands as a testament to the psychological and physical challenges endured by intelligence officers.

Bhaskar's interrogation included over 330 sessions of physical torture, with his interrogators using techniques specifically designed to inflict maximum pain without leaving permanent evidence. In his memoir, he describes a particularly harrowing technique called "water treatment," where water was continuously dripped onto his forehead for hours, a method known to cause severe psychological distress. During his imprisonment, he encountered 12 other Indian spies in Pakistani custody, many of whom were never officially acknowledged by the Indian government. His book reveals that he was betrayed by a double agent within Indian intelligence—someone who had been compromised by Pakistani counterintelligence and who deliberately provided information that led to Bhaskar's capture.

5. Sehmat Khan: The Inspiration Behind "Raazi"

Popularized through the film "Raazi," Sehmat Khan's actual identity remains classified, but her story has become legendary in Indian intelligence circles. As a Kashmiri woman married into a Pakistani military family during the 1971 Indo-Pak war, she transmitted critical intelligence that helped India prepare for Pakistan's naval movements.

Her information notably helped prevent an attack on the INS Vikrant, saving countless lives and providing India with a strategic advantage. Operating alone in enemy territory while maintaining her cover as a dutiful wife and daughter-in-law, Sehmat demonstrated exceptional courage and presence of mind.

After successfully completing her mission and returning to India, she reportedly lived a quiet life away from public attention, embodying the anonymous sacrifice that characterizes many intelligence operatives.

The real Sehmat Khan was a student at Delhi University when her father, himself an intelligence asset, was diagnosed with terminal cancer. On his deathbed, he requested that she take his place, leading to her arranged marriage into a Pakistani military family. According to Harinder Sikka, who wrote the book "Calling Sehmat," on which the film was based, Sehmat was so deeply embedded that she had to make the heartrending decision to eliminate a household servant who had discovered her true identity—a traumatic act that haunted her for the rest of her life. After returning to India, she suffered from severe post-traumatic stress disorder and reportedly lived as a recluse, refusing all recognition and rewards for her service. She insisted that her real name never be revealed and dedicated the remainder of her life to teaching and spiritual pursuits.

6. B.N. Malik: The Deep Cover Agent

B.N. Malik operated under deep cover in Pakistan during a period of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan. With meticulous preparation and extraordinary attention to detail, Malik successfully established himself as a Pakistani citizen.

Over several years, he created an extensive network of informants, providing India with valuable insights into Pakistan's military capabilities and strategic plans. What distinguished Malik was his ability to transmit information through innovative coding systems that evaded detection.

When political circumstances changed, Malik faced the challenging task of extracting himself safely. His successful return to India represented a masterclass in both infiltration and exfiltration techniques, though specific details of his operations remain classified to this day.

Intelligence community insiders reveal that Malik's communication techniques were groundbreaking for their time. He developed a system using classified advertisements in local newspapers, incorporating seemingly innocuous phrases that contained encrypted information about military installations and troop movements. His attention to detail was legendary—he reportedly memorized the complete family histories of his cover identity going back three generations, including the names of distant relatives, childhood friends, and teachers. This thoroughness saved his life during at least two intense interrogations by Pakistani counterintelligence officers who became suspicious of his activities. After his return to India, Malik helped design training protocols for future deep-cover operatives, and several of his techniques are reportedly still in use today.

7. Rabinder Singh: The Controversial Double Agent

Not all espionage stories end heroically, as demonstrated by the case of Rabinder Singh. As a high-ranking RAW officer, Singh had access to sensitive information, but suspicions arose when unusual patterns emerged in his behavior.

Investigations revealed Singh was allegedly working as a double agent for a foreign intelligence agency. When surveillance tightened around him in 2004, Singh dramatically fled India, reportedly escaping through Nepal to the United States.

His defection represented one of the most significant security breaches in RAW's history, prompting substantial reforms in vetting procedures. Singh's controversial story highlights the complex moral territory navigated by intelligence operatives and the devastating consequences of betrayal.

Singh's path to betrayal began gradually, with his colleagues noting his increasingly lavish lifestyle years before suspicions formally arose. He drove luxury cars, wore designer suits, and took expensive international vacations that seemed impossible on a government salary. The counterintelligence operation against him revealed that he had been photocopying classified documents after hours when he thought no one was watching. Most disturbingly, intelligence assessments concluded that Singh had compromised the identities of at least 40 Indian operatives working abroad, placing their lives in immediate danger and necessitating costly emergency extraction operations. His escape through Nepal exposed critical weaknesses in India's border control systems, leading to a complete overhaul of security protocols for intelligence officers and heightened surveillance of high-ranking officials with access to sensitive information.

8. Kulbhushan Jadhav: The Ongoing International Case

One of the most publicized cases in recent times involves Kulbhushan Jadhav, allegedly a former Indian naval officer arrested by Pakistan in 2016 on espionage charges. Pakistan claims Jadhav was working for RAW, conducting intelligence operations in Balochistan.

After a closed military trial, Jadhav was sentenced to death, triggering an international diplomatic crisis. India maintains that Jadhav was a retired naval officer conducting business in Iran and was kidnapped by Pakistani operatives.

The case reached the International Court of Justice, which ordered Pakistan to stay Jadhav's execution and grant consular access to India. The ongoing nature of this case illustrates the continuing high stakes of intelligence operations and the complex international ramifications when operatives are captured.

The diplomatic battle over Jadhav has featured unprecedented developments in international law. The International Court of Justice's intervention marked the first time in history that the UN's highest court directly intervened in a bilateral espionage case between two nuclear-armed nations. Forensic analysis of the "confession video" released by Pakistan revealed multiple edits and splices, raising serious questions about its authenticity. Intelligence experts have pointed out that if Jadhav were genuinely a high-level spy, he would never have carried his genuine Indian passport—a basic operational security measure that all trained spies observe. Behind the scenes, multiple back-channel negotiations have reportedly occurred through diplomatic intermediaries from Russia and the United Arab Emirates, though these efforts have so far failed to resolve the standoff. The case continues to complicate already strained India-Pakistan relations and has become a rallying point for nationalist sentiment in both countries.

9. Ajit Doval: From Field Operative to National Security Advisor

Before becoming India's National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval spent seven years undercover in Pakistan. As a field intelligence officer, Doval infiltrated terrorist organizations, gathering critical information on their operations and leadership structures.

His most celebrated achievement came during Operation Black Thunder in 1988, where his intelligence work was instrumental in resolving the crisis at the Golden Temple without significant bloodshed. Doval also played a crucial role in the northeast, helping negotiate the surrender of militants.

With numerous gallantry awards, including the Kirti Chakra, Doval's transition from field operative to strategist and finally to National Security Advisor represents a rare public acknowledgment of a decorated intelligence officer's contributions.

During his undercover years in Pakistan, Doval reportedly changed his appearance so convincingly that his own family had difficulty recognizing him when he occasionally returned to India for briefings. He learned to speak Urdu with such perfect regional accents that he could pass as a native of whichever Pakistani province his mission required. His cover was so deep that he once attended Friday prayers at a mosque, standing right next to a terrorist leader he was tracking. During Operation Black Thunder, Doval disguised himself as a Pakistani agent claiming to help the militants. He gained their trust so completely that they revealed their strategic positions and weapons caches to him, information he relayed directly to Indian security forces. According to intelligence community sources, Doval was on the assassination list of at least three terrorist organizations during his career and survived two direct attempts on his life. His philosophy of "defensive offense" in counterterrorism has fundamentally reshaped India's security doctrine in the 21st century.

10. K.S. Kulkarni: The Linguistic Genius

K.S. Kulkarni's exceptional linguistic abilities made him an invaluable asset to India's intelligence operations. Fluent in multiple languages, including Chinese, Kulkarni operated in various countries across Asia during the 1960s and 1970s.

His most significant contribution came during the Sino-Indian tensions, where his understanding of Chinese cultural nuances and language allowed him to provide in-depth intelligence about Chinese military positions and strategies.

Unlike many field operatives, Kulkarni later transitioned to an analytical role, developing frameworks for intelligence gathering that influenced India's approach to espionage. Though less known publicly, intelligence veterans acknowledge Kulkarni's methodological contributions as having shaped modern Indian intelligence practices.

Kulkarni's linguistic talents were nothing short of extraordinary—he was proficient in 17 languages and could pass as a native speaker in at least nine of them. His method for language acquisition became required reading at RAW's training facility. Beyond his language skills, Kulkarni possessed an eidetic memory that allowed him to memorize entire documents after reading them just once—a critical ability in the pre-digital era when physically copying documents posed significant risks. During the 1962 Sino-Indian War, his intelligence reports on Chinese supply chains and logistics vulnerabilities reportedly saved countless Indian lives by enabling targeted disruption operations. His analytical framework, known within intelligence circles as the "Kulkarni Matrix," revolutionized how India assessed foreign threats by integrating linguistic analysis with behavioral psychology and cultural anthropology. Though he declined all public recognition during his lifetime, a specialized language training wing at a classified intelligence facility is reportedly named in his honor.

11. Rameshwar Nath Kao: The Architect of Modern Indian Intelligence

While not a field operative in the traditional sense, R.N. Kao deserves recognition as the founding father of India's external intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). Kao's strategic vision and organizational genius transformed India's intelligence capabilities from rudimentary to world-class.

Appointed as the first chief of RAW in 1968, Kao built the organization from scratch, recruiting and training operatives who would later become legendary in their own right. His crowning achievement came during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, where RAW's intelligence operations provided crucial support to both Indian military efforts and the Bangladeshi resistance.

Kao's "K Operations"—named after him—involved complex networks of assets across East Pakistan, providing real-time intelligence that gave India decisive advantages. His strategic approach to intelligence gathering prioritized human intelligence over technological means, establishing networks that continued to yield valuable information for decades.

Behind Kao's public persona as a sophisticated, Western-educated intelligence professional lay a master strategist with unmatched operational instincts. Standing at an imposing 6'2", Kao was known for his photographic memory and ability to recall details from briefings years after they occurred. His personal diary, portions of which were declassified decades after his death, revealed his direct role in training the "Mukti Bahini" guerrilla fighters during the Bangladesh Liberation War. The diary also confirmed long-standing rumors that he personally managed a network of assets within the Pakistani military leadership.

Kao pioneered the concept of "plausible deniability" in South Asian intelligence operations, creating sophisticated command structures that protected both operatives and political leaders. His relationship with Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was particularly close—he was one of the few people with direct access to her at any time. After the successful formation of Bangladesh, international intelligence agencies, including the CIA and Mossad, sent representatives to study Kao's methods, particularly his innovative approach to managing resistance movements. The "Kao-boys," as his handpicked officers were known, went on to occupy key positions throughout India's security establishment, ensuring his methodological approach continued to influence operations long after his retirement.

12. Kushwant Singh: The Journalist Spy

Not to be confused with the famous author of the same name, Kushwant Singh represents one of the most successful implementations of "journalistic cover" in espionage history. Working as a seemingly independent foreign correspondent during the 1950s and 1960s, Singh traveled extensively throughout Asia, filing legitimate news stories while gathering intelligence.

His position with a respected news organization provided him with access to high-level officials, diplomatic functions, and sensitive areas typically off-limits to foreigners. Singh's most significant contributions came during the period of Sino-Soviet tensions, where his reporting from both Moscow and Beijing gave India valuable insights into the deteriorating relationship between the communist powers.

Singh's tradecraft involved developing genuine journalistic skills—his articles were published in major international publications, establishing a credible cover that withstood scrutiny. His ability to maintain this dual identity for over two decades marks him as one of India's most successful deep-cover operatives.

What made Singh's operations particularly effective was his genuine talent as a journalist. His published articles won several international awards, and even his colleagues at prestigious publications never suspected his dual role. According to former intelligence officials who have spoken on condition of anonymity, Singh's press credentials gave him access to at least seven world leaders, including multiple private interviews with Zhou Enlai of China and Nikita Khrushchev of the Soviet Union. His network of sources extended to senior military officials, scientists working on sensitive projects, and economic advisors with insights into strategic planning.

Singh's most remarkable accomplishment was maintaining active intelligence-gathering operations while simultaneously building a distinguished journalism career. His language skills allowed him to detect subtle shifts in official rhetoric that often preceded policy changes, providing early warnings of diplomatic and military developments. After his retirement, Singh helped design journalist cover protocols for a new generation of operatives, teaching them how to balance genuine reporting with intelligence gathering. Though his journalism was authentic, he strategically focused on topics and regions that aligned with India's intelligence priorities, creating a seamless integration between his public and covert work.

Notable Indian Intelligence Operatives

• Bhavna Chaudhary - A pioneering female operative who specialized in counterterrorism operations in the 1990s, known for infiltrating extremist cells in Southeast Asia.

• Vivek Agarwal - Technology specialist who revolutionized India's cyber intelligence capabilities during the early 2000s, credited with preventing several major cyberattacks.

• Sudhir Kumar Ghosh - Maritime intelligence expert who created India's coastal surveillance network, instrumental in strengthening security after the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

• Deepak Tripathi - Deep cover operative who spent over a decade in Nepal and Tibet, providing critical intelligence about Chinese military activities in the Himalayan region.

• Amrita Sharma - Cryptography expert who developed unique decoding systems for RAW in the 1980s, enabling interception and interpretation of critical communications.

• Rajiv Mathur - Specialized in financial intelligence, tracking terrorism funding networks across multiple countries throughout the 1990s and early 2000s.

• Vikram Singh Bakshi - Former military officer turned intelligence operative who conducted significant operations in Afghanistan during the Soviet occupation.

• Parminder Kaur - Specialized in psychological operations, developing influential disinformation campaigns during critical diplomatic confrontations.

• Neelam Dixit - Foreign language specialist who operated in multiple Middle Eastern countries, providing intelligence about regional conflicts affecting Indian interests.

• Manish Chandra - Expert in developing non-official cover identities, responsible for creating elaborate backstories and documentation for deep cover operatives.

• Karan Saxena - Signal intelligence specialist who established critical listening posts in strategic locations during the 1980s.

• Jagdish Ahuja - Handler for multiple important assets in foreign governments, operating primarily in Southeast Asia from the late 1970s through the 1990s.

• Dr. Suresh Rathore - Scientific intelligence specialist who tracked nuclear and missile technology developments in neighboring countries.

• Anand Kumar Verma - Former RAW chief who oversaw significant operational expansions in the 1980s, focusing on improving India's technical intelligence capabilities.

• Maya Sinha - Specializing in counter-espionage, responsible for identifying and neutralizing foreign intelligence activities within India during a critical period in the 1990s.

• Gopal Sharma - Intelligence officer credited with establishing networks in Central Asia following the collapse of the Soviet Union, providing India with strategic positioning in the region.

• Rajesh Pilot - Covert operations specialist who ran missions in Pakistan-administered Kashmir during periods of heightened tension.

• Sharmila Tagore (code name, not the actress) - Deep cover operative who posed as a cultural attaché while gathering intelligence about nuclear programs in multiple countries.

These twelve remarkable individuals represent just a fraction of the countless unnamed heroes who have served India's intelligence interests. Their stories, ranging from triumphant successes to tragic captures, illuminate the extraordinary personal sacrifices made in the shadowy world of espionage.

While many details of their operations remain classified, their collective legacy has profoundly shaped India's intelligence capabilities and national security framework. As we remember these courageous operatives, we acknowledge that for every publicly known spy, dozens more continue to serve anonymously, their stories perhaps never to be told.

The psychological toll of espionage work cannot be overstated. Many of these individuals lived with dual identities for years or decades, unable to share their true work even with close family members. They operated without the safety net of diplomatic protection, knowing that disavowal by their government was standard protocol if they were captured. Their training prepared them not just for information gathering but for the possibility of capture, torture, and execution.

What binds these diverse individuals—from actors to linguists, journalists to military officers—is an extraordinary commitment to national service that transcended personal safety. Each developed specialized skills that made them uniquely valuable to India's security interests, often at tremendous personal cost. Their stories reveal that beyond the glamorized portrayal of espionage in popular culture lies a reality of intense psychological pressure, moral complexity, and unwavering patriotism.

In honoring these notable spies, we recognize the complex moral territory they navigated and the immense psychological burdens they carried for the sake of national security—truly embodying courage in its most solitary form.

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