Chandigarh (National Times): In a breakthrough in an ongoing espionage investigation, the Punjab Police have arrested Jasbir Singh, a Rupnagar-based YouTuber, over alleged spying for Pakistan. Singh, who runs the YouTube channel “Jaan Mahal”, is suspected of being part of a broader spy network with ties to Pakistan-based handlers and terror outfits.
The arrest was made by the State Special Operations Cell (SSOC) in Mohali, following actionable intelligence inputs. The development comes just days after the arrest of Jyoti Malhotra, another YouTuber accused of being in touch with Pakistani intelligence operatives.
Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav announced the arrest on Wednesday via X (formerly Twitter), stating: “Acting swiftly on actionable intelligence, SSOC Mohali has unearthed a critical espionage network linked to Jasbir Singh, a resident of Village Mahlan, Rupnagar.”
Pakistan Trips and Dubious Contacts
According to the police, Jasbir Singh had traveled to Pakistan three times—in 2020, 2021, and 2024. Investigators say he was invited to a Pakistan National Day event in Delhi by a man named Danish, where he allegedly met with Pakistani Army officials and vloggers.
His electronic devices have revealed multiple Pakistan-based contacts, which are currently being examined through forensic analysis.
The police believe that after Jyoti Malhotra’s arrest, Singh attempted to wipe out all digital traces of his communication with Persons of Interest (POIs) believed to be Pakistani operatives.
FIR Filed, Network Under Wider Probe
An FIR has been registered at the SSOC in Mohali, and the Punjab Police have confirmed that investigations are underway to uncover the full scope of the espionage and terror nexus.
DGP Yadav said: “Investigations are underway to dismantle the broader espionage-terror network and identify all collaborators. Punjab Police reaffirms its unwavering commitment to safeguarding national security and neutralizing all threats posed by such anti-national elements.”
Link to Jyoti Malhotra
The arrest of Jasbir Singh comes close on the heels of the arrest of Jyoti Malhotra, a Hisar-based YouTuber who ran the channel “Travel with JO”. She was apprehended from New Aggarsain Extension in Haryana under the Official Secrets Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Although authorities stated that Malhotra didn’t have access to military secrets, she was confirmed to be in regular contact with Pakistani intelligence operative Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, a staffer at the Pakistan High Commission, since November 2023.
Danish was expelled by India on May 13 for espionage-related activities. Investigators also found that Malhotra had traveled to Pakistan, China, and Bangladesh, and was in touch with Danish even during the India-Pakistan military standoff following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
National Security Agencies Involved
Multiple agencies, including the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Intelligence Bureau (IB), and Military Intelligence, have joined the probe to piece together what appears to be a sophisticated cross-border spy ring operating across North India.
With arrests now spanning Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, authorities believe more operatives could be embedded in the digital content creator community, using YouTube and social media platforms as covers for illicit communication and data sharing.
The Punjab Police has urged citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity, reinforcing its resolve to root out threats to national security.
