Thane: Arrested junior engineer Ravi Varma (27) allegedly leaked classified information about 14 Indian Navy warships and submarines to suspected Pakistani Intelligence Operatives or PIOs, according to the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) investigation. Verma, a resident of Atkoneshwar Nagar in Kalwa, worked with a private company contracted by defence establishments in Mumbai for critical vessel repairs and maintenance. Sources said Verma began corresponding with at least six PIOs, who posed as women, through a social media platform in 2024, raising suspicions that he may have been systematically targeted by a larger espionage network. Through feigned academic interest and romantic conversations, these PIOs cultivated Verma’s trust and systematically extracted sensitive technical drawings, operational details, and security layouts of at least 14 submarines and warships. Despite stringent protocols prohibiting mobile devices within his work sphere, Verma allegedly memorised critical information and transmitted it through messages and hand-drawn sketches via social media after work. Verma may have believed he was helping someone with whom he formed an emotional bond, said police.On Friday, Verma was produced before a Thane court, which remanded him to police custody till Monday.Ravi’s mother, Rekha, said her son was innocent and blamed social media. “He is my only support,” she said, adding that her husband is an alcoholic. Her one son died of cancer and daughter is divorced. “Yes, Ravi spoke to someone on Facebook, but the woman trapped my son,” she said. Rekha claimed that Ravi had told her about some “bad women” on Facebook and that he wanted to deactivate his account.