Madhuri Gupta, the first Indian woman diplomat caught spying for Pakistan, continues to spook the diplomatic and political establishment in India. The story has slipped off the front pages, but now seasoned insiders are asking tough questions.

If Gupta did not pass any sensitive information, then why was she hounded in full public glare, asked a puzzled diplomat. Is there a cover-up on here, asked another.

Worse, the hard realisation is dawning that the way the story was leaked has perhaps done more damage to India’s interests than what Gupta did. The worst-kept secret of posting spies in diplomatic missions is now out.

Pakistanis are gloating that now everyone knows some of the undercover operatives in the Indian mission in Islamabad.