Photo for representation only. Source: iStock

New Delhi, January 31

An Indian Air Force Group Captain, equal to Colonel in the Army, has been detained by the IAF’s counter-intelligence unit for possible espionage and exchange of classified documents,  routed through  a  woman.The officer, an  instructor but not in the flying  branch, struck friendship with the woman on Facebook and then took to WhatsApp over which he passed on certain classified  documents.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)Posted at the IAF headquarters in New Delhi, the officer had access to certain levels of plans and documents. Sources suspect he may have been ‘honey-trapped’ after his ties with his woman friend grew deeper. The identity of the woman is not clear. The IAF suspects more people may be involved in the ring.Armed forces officers can have a social media presence but are barred from posting their pictures in uniform, revealing  their place of posting or any official material, information on visits or plans regarding operations.Each letter or document in the armed forces is graded for security as confidential, secret, classified and top secret. — TNS