 "Who is Jasbir Singh, Punjab YouTuber arrested for ‘spying’ for Pakistan? How is he linked to Jyoti Malhotra?")
Just weeks after the arrest of YouTuber ‘spy’ Jyoti Malhotra, the Punjab Police have cracked open yet another suspected Pakistan-backed espionage ring—this time involving another YouTuber, Jasbir Singh.
Singh was picked up by the State Special Operations Cell (SSOC) in Punjab’s Mohali on Wednesday, based on intelligence inputs.
Investigators say the YouTuber, whose channel goes by the name ‘JaanMahal video’ with over a million subscribers, was in contact with a Pakistani intelligence operative. Not only this, he was also in touch with Haryana-based YouTuber fellow Jyoti Malhotra, who was recently arrested for allegedly spying for Pakistan.
So, who is Jasbir Singh? And what has the investigation revealed so far? Here’s what we know.
Links with Pakistan officials, Jyoti Malhotra
Jasbir Singh, who hails from Mahlan village in Punjab’s Ropar district, has gained a large following through his YouTube channel. However, police say his online activity hid deeper connections.
According to officials, Singh was in close contact with multiple Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) believed to be working under Pakistani handlers.
According to Punjab Police, he was associated with Shakir alias Jutt Randhawa, a Pakistani intelligence operative suspected to be linked to Pakistan’s spy agency, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
Investigators further allege that Singh stayed in regular contact with Jyoti Malhotra and Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, a former official at the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi who was expelled by India last month on charges of espionage.
Singh is said to have attended the Pakistan National Day celebrations in Delhi at Danish’s invitation, where he met with several Pakistani Army officers and vloggers, raising serious security concerns. Authorities also revealed that Singh travelled to Pakistan three times—in 2020, 2021, and again in 2024.
Earlier, Jyoti Malhotra, who runs the YouTube channel Travel with Jo, was also seen at a similar event at the Pakistan High Commission. She was spotted interacting with Danish, his wife, and several other officials.
As per The Times of India, it was Danish who allegedly introduced Malhotra to Pakistani handlers, including two individuals named Shakir and Rana Shahbaz. She allegedly disclosed that she was in touch with Pakistani intelligence agents through encrypted messaging platforms such as WhatsApp, Snapchat, and Telegram.
Malhotra is currently under a 14-day judicial custody, and is being interrogated by NIA, IB and Haryana Police for her alleged espionage links with Pakistan.
Singh tried to delete contact with PIOs after Malhotra’s arrest
Electronic devices seized from Jasbir Singh revealed multiple contact numbers traced to Pakistan, which are now being analysed by forensic teams.
Officials say that after the arrest of YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, Singh attempted to wipe out all records of his communication with PIOs. Despite his efforts, investigators recovered key data that links him to suspected terror-backed intelligence networks.
A case has been registered at the State Special Operations Cell (SSOC) in Mohali, and the police say investigations are ongoing to dismantle the larger espionage network and identify others involved.
Series of espionage arrests in Punjab
Singh’s arrest comes amid a wider crackdown on alleged Pakistan-linked spy activities across Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.
Just a day before, Punjab Police arrested a man named Gagandeep Singh from Tarn Taran for allegedly sharing sensitive details about army movements during Operation Sindoor. He had reportedly received payments from foreign handlers. A mobile phone recovered from him contained intelligence and details of over 20 ISI-linked contacts.
Last month, two men from Ajnala in Amritsar, Falaksher Masih and Suraj Masih, were also arrested for leaking sensitive information, including photos of army cantonments and air bases in border areas, to ISI operatives.
In a separate case, a woman named Guzala and her associate Yameen Mohamad from Malerkotla were arrested on May 11 for allegedly spying for Pakistan. According to police, they were in contact with Danish, the expelled official from the Pakistan High Commission, and received money via online transfers in exchange for sharing classified army-related information.
During questioning, Guzala reportedly confessed to sending updates about Indian Army activities to the Pakistani official in Delhi.
Two more individuals, Sukhpreet Singh and Karanbir Singh from Gurdaspur, were also arrested for sharing sensitive military details with the ISI.
These arrests are part of a broader investigation launched across the country amid heightened surveillance in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack and India-Pakistan tensions.
With input from agencies
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