 "YouTuber, student and more: Who are the ‘Pakistani spies’ arrested in India?")
At least eight people from three different states in India have been taken into custody for allegedly passing information to Pakistan.
The arrests come at a time when authorities are stepping up efforts to track and stop espionage activities, just days after the terror attack in Pahalgam and the launch of Operation Sindoor.
Among those held is travel vlogger Jyoti Malhotra . Her videos are now under investigation after one of them reportedly showed her in contact with a Pakistani official at the High Commission in India.
So, who are these eight people? In this explainer, we look at who they are, what they’ve been accused of, and what officials have said so far.
Here’s a look:
1. Jyoti Malhotra
Jyoti Malhotra , also known as Jyoti Rani, is a graduate and the daughter of a retired official from the Haryana power discom. She ran a travel YouTube channel called “Travel with Joe”, which had over 3.2 lakh subscribers.
She also has a notable following on social media, with 1.37 lakh followers on Instagram (travelwithjo1), and has a presence on Facebook and Snapchat.
Malhotra travelled to Pakistan twice. Her first visit took place in 2023, with her visa arranged through agents. She returned there two months ago and posted several videos and reels from the trip.
These visits drew the attention of Indian authorities.
According to the police, the 33-year-old had been in contact with a Pakistani official at the High Commission and had visited Pakistan at least two times.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsAccording to PTI, Hisar SP Shashank Kumar Sawan said that Pakistani intelligence had been trying to recruit Jyoti Malhotra as a long-term asset.
She was arrested by Civil Lines police in Haryana and charged under the Official Secrets Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. A local court sent her to five days of police custody.
Police claim that Malhotra had regular contact with Pakistani intelligence agents and sent them sensitive information using WhatsApp, Telegram and Snapchat. Her handlers also reportedly asked her to show Pakistan in a positive light on her social media accounts.
2. Devendra Singh
Devendra Singh, a 25-year-old student from Haryana, was arrested for allegedly spying and passing sensitive details to Pakistan.
He is a student of political science at Khalsa College in Patiala and was detained after posting photos of guns and pistols on his Facebook account.
During questioning, it was revealed that he had travelled to Pakistan in November last year through the Kartarpur corridor. He is accused of sharing sensitive information with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
VIDEO | Haryana: On the arrest of an alleged Pakistani spy, Kaithal SP Astha Modi said, “A 25-year-old suspected spy, Devendra Singh, a resident of Mastgarh village, has been found to have links with Pakistani intelligence officers. An FIR has been registered against him. He had… pic.twitter.com/aM6pkIw3TO
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 16, 2025
“He used to provide information about the dispute going on between India and Pakistan to that agency, as well as information about Operation Sindoor to the Pakistani army and the ISI from time to time,” Kaithal DSP Veerbhan said in a statement.
3. Arman
Arman, a 23-year-old from Nuh in Haryana, was taken into custody for allegedly passing sensitive information to Pakistan at a time when tensions between the two countries were high.
Police said they have gathered evidence to support their claims, and the investigation is ongoing.
According to officers, Arman had been in contact with Pakistani agents since 2023.
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4. Nauman Ilahi
Nauman Ilahi, a 24-year-old man, was recently arrested in Panipat district, Haryana, on suspicion of supplying sensitive details to people in Pakistan.
Reports indicate that he was in communication with a handler from Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence.
A resident of Uttar Pradesh, Ilahi allegedly received money from Pakistan, which was deposited into the account of his brother-in-law. This was reportedly in exchange for sharing information with contacts in Islamabad.
Notably, he worked as a security guard at a factory.
5. Shahzad
Shahzad , a businessman based in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, was arrested by the Special Task Force (STF) in Moradabad on Sunday.
According to the STF, he had passed on important information related to national security to his handlers.
He is also suspected of smuggling goods such as cosmetics, clothing, spices, and other items across the India-Pakistan border.
6. Mohammad Murtaza Ali
Mohammad Murtaza Ali was arrested by police during a raid in Jalandhar after receiving intelligence that he was spying for Pakistan’s ISI.
He allegedly used a mobile app, which he had developed himself, to send information.
Police recovered four mobile phones and three SIM cards from him at the time of the arrest.
7. Guzala and Yamin Mohammad
Punjab Police arrested two people from Malerkotla district in Punjab for suspected spying activities linked to a Pakistani official posted at the High Commission.
The two were identified as Guzala and Yamin Mohammad, both residents of Malerkotla, as reported by the Hindustan Times.
Guzala is a 32-year-old widow, according to the reports.
8. Palak Sher Masih and Suraj Masih
On 4 May, Punjab Police arrested two individuals for allegedly leaking sensitive information and photographs of Army cantonment areas and air bases in Amritsar to Pakistani intelligence agents.
The two accused were identified as Palak Sher Masih and Suraj Masih. Rural Amritsar Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Maninder Singh confirmed their arrest while speaking to news agency ANI.
They are accused of sharing visuals and details related to military sites with handlers in Pakistan.
Who is Priyanka Senapati?
Odisha-based YouTuber Priyanka Senapati, known for her travel videos, is currently under investigation in connection with the case involving Jyoti Malhotra.
According to Hindustan Times, she had travelled to Kartarpur in Pakistan three to four months ago and had formed a friendship with Jyoti.
Puri Superintendent of Police (SP) Vinit Agrawal said that Priyanka is being examined from all angles. Authorities are looking into her ties with Jyoti and her travel through the Kartarpur corridor.
“After getting information about this incident, our verification is going on in this regard. After the verification is complete, we will put forward all the facts. Along with this, we are in touch with different agencies of different states, central agency, Haryana Police and we will provide whatever information they need from us,” SP Agrawal stated.
With inputs from agencies
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