Kaithal (National Times): A 25-year-old student from Kaithal, Haryana, has been arrested for allegedly passing sensitive information to Pakistani intelligence operatives, Kaithal Superintendent of Police (SP) Astha Modi confirmed on Monday.
The accused, Devendra Singh, is currently pursuing his first year of a Master’s degree at a college in Patiala. According to police, Devendra had established contact with four Pakistani intelligence operatives—three men and one woman—following a visit to Pakistan in November last year.
“He has confessed to filming a video near a cantonment area in Patiala and sending it to these operatives,” SP Modi stated. Devendra is currently in police custody on a three-day remand. Authorities have searched his residence and seized two electronic devices, from which approximately 300 GB of data has been recovered. The data is now under analysis by a cyber forensic lab.
A forensic audit of Devendra’s bank accounts is also underway as part of the ongoing investigation.
Separate Espionage Probe Involving YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra
In a related development, Odisha Police are investigating YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra for allegedly sharing sensitive information and maintaining regular contact with a Pakistani national. Authorities are also examining her connection with another YouTuber based in Odisha.
Inspector General of Police (IGP), CID Crime Branch, Sarthak Sarangi, said, “We have received information that Jyoti Malhotra visited several key locations in Odisha, including the Jagannath Temple in Puri, Chilika Lake, and Konark. She posted videos of these visits on Instagram and was reportedly in touch with an Odisha-based YouTuber. We are verifying the facts and coordinating with Haryana Police.”
Jyoti Malhotra, a resident of Hisar, Haryana, was recently arrested in connection with the case. Puri SP Vinit Agrawal confirmed that local police are actively coordinating with their counterparts in Haryana for further investigation.
Statewide Crackdown on Espionage
Commenting on the broader situation, Haryana Director General of Police (DGP) Shatrujeet Kapoor said several arrests have been made in recent months as part of an intensified crackdown on suspected espionage activities linked to Pakistan. He credited heightened surveillance and inter-agency coordination for the successful operations.
