In a significant crackdown on espionage activities, Punjab Police have apprehended Jasbir Singh, a popular YouTuber known for his channel ‘JaanMahal Video,’ which boasts over one million subscribers. The arrest occurred in Rupnagar thanks to actionable intelligence gathered by the State Special Operations Cell (SSOC). Singh is accused of being part of a Pakistan-backed espionage network that allegedly aims to collect and disseminate sensitive information.
Punjab’s Director General of Police, Gaurav Yadav, indicated that Singh had been in contact with a Pakistan Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) officer identified as Shakir, also known as Jutt Randhawa. Investigations into Singh’s activities suggest he was interconnected with a larger terrorist network operating in the region.
Jasbir Singh’s background raises further eyebrows; he has traveled to Pakistan on three occasions and was notably invited to Pakistan National Day celebrations at the Pakistani Embassy in New Delhi, hosted by Ehsan-ur-Rahim, an expelled official from the Pakistan High Commission in India. Authorities are now examining Singh’s electronic devices, which reportedly contain numerous contacts linked to Pakistan.
Investigators have also highlighted Singh’s ties to another YouTuber, Jyoti Malhotra, who was arrested last month for similar charges. Following Malhotra’s detention, Singh allegedly made attempts to purge digital evidence of his communications with contacts in Pakistan.
This arrest comes shortly after the detention of Gagandeep Singh from Tarn Taran, who was accused of leaking sensitive information regarding Indian Army movements during Operation Sindoor. Gagandeep reportedly received compensation from foreign intelligence agents for his activities.
The recent arrests form part of a broader wave of crackdowns on espionage in light of escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, particularly following a recent terror attack in Pahalgam. Malhotra, who operated the channel ‘Travel with Jo,’ had also traveled to Pakistan multiple times and maintained contact with several Pakistani intelligence officers. Investigators recovered a WhatsApp conversation where she allegedly solicited assistance from an ISI handler regarding personal matters, raising serious national security concerns.
Additionally, espionage activities have entangled other individuals, including Davendra Singh Dhillon, a 25-year-old student from Khalsa College in Patiala, who was arrested in Haryana. Dhillon uploaded images of firearms online, leading to investigations that uncovered connections to ISI agents. He stands accused of sharing sensitive military location information with handlers based in Pakistan.
Furthermore, Nauman Ilahi, a 24-year-old security guard in Haryana, was found to be in regular communication with ISI operatives and allegedly received financial support through his brother-in-law’s social media account.
In light of these developments, security agencies—including the Intelligence Bureau, Military Intelligence, and the National Investigation Agency—are ramping up coordinated efforts to counteract foreign espionage threats, which they view as a serious risk to national security. The situation continues to unfold as investigations deepen into the extensive network that purportedly aims to undermine India’s internal stability.
