ASIO disrupted a 'nest of spies' operated by the Indian government in Australia before they were booted out

Indian spies were kicked out of Australia by the former Scott Morrison government, accused of trying to get classified information about our trading partnerships and sensitive information concerning national security, officials have revealed.

Intelligence officials from the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), managed to disrupt the spy ring in 2020. 

The agency was alerted to a range of activities allegedly being conducted by the operatives who were closely monitoring Indians living in Australia. 

The so-called 'nest of spies' from India also formed close relationships with several current and former Australians politicians, the ABC reported.

ASIO director general Mike Burgess first alluded to the spy ring in his annual threat assessment delivered at the agency's Canberra headquarters in 2021 but didn't name the country.

'The spies developed targeted relationships with current and former politicians, a foreign embassy and a state police service,' he said at the time.

'They monitored their country's diaspora community. They tried to obtain classified information about Australia's trade relationships.

'They asked a public servant to provide information on security protocols at a major airport.'

Australian national security officials and senior government figures have now told the ABC that the Indian foreign intelligence service, known as the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) were responsible for the undercover agents. 

RAW is India's external intelligence agency which was established in 1968 by the Intelligence Bureau of India. 

'A number' of Indian officials were removed from Australia by the then Morrison government after their undercover activities were detected.

 Mr Burgess also detailed at the time how the 'nest of the spies' recruited an individual from the Australian government, who had security clearance to supply them with sensitive information about Australia's defence technology.

Last year he declined to provide details over any concerns ASIO officials in Australia have, about foreign operations being conducted by the Indian government. 

'I don't comment on any actions of any government...I can assure you though if we saw acts of foreign interference or plotting for that, we will deal with it,' he told the ABC. 

When asked if he was directly involved in removing any Indian intelligence operatives from Australia, Mr Burgess declined to disclose operational matters. 

Daily Mail Australia contacted ASIO, the Indian High Commission, and the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet for comment.

India's intelligence activities have come under scrutiny after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, accused the Indian government of being involved in the assassination of a Sikh activist in British Columbia in June, last year. 

The Indian government denied that officials were involved in the incident.