Punjab YouTuber tried to erase links to Pak agents after Jyoti Malhotra's arrest

UPDATED: Jun 4, 2025 16:42 IST

Jasbir Singh, a YouTuber arrested in Punjab for allegedly spying for Pakistan, tried to erase data linking him to Pakistani agents after Jyoti Malhotra's arrest. Malhotra, a Haryana-based YouTuber, was arrested along with six others in May for allegedly passing sensitive information to Pakistani operatives.

Singh, who operates a YouTube channel called ‘Jaan Mahal’ with 1.1 million subscribers, is a resident of Mahlan village. He was arrested in Mohali on Wednesday for his alleged involvement in a Pakistani espionage network. He also maintained “close contact” with Malhotra, who was arrested on charges of spying, and Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, a former official at the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi who was expelled on espionage charges.

Following Jyoti Malhotra’s arrest, Jasbir Singh attempted to delete all digital traces of his communication with foreign handlers, Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said on Wednesday.

Yadav posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, saying, "Acting swiftly on actionable intelligence, SSOC Mohali has unearthed a critical espionage network linked to Jasbir Singh, a resident of Village Mahlan, Rupnagar."

Investigations further revealed that Jasbir attended the Pakistan National Day event in Delhi on Danish’s invitation, where he met Pakistani Army officials and vloggers. He also traveled to Pakistan on three different occasions (2020, 2021, and 2024), and his electronic devices contained multiple Pakistan-based numbers, which are now under comprehensive forensic scrutiny.

At the Pakistan National Day celebration, Singh also posed with Jyoti Malhotra and Danish and shared pictures of the event on his Instagram page.

According to Punjab Police, Jasbir Singh was closely linked to Pakistani intelligence officer Shakir alias Jutt Randhawa, a person of Indian origin suspected to be operating for Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). He also maintained ties with Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish.

An FIR has been registered at the State Special Operation Cell in Mohali. Singh was produced before a Mohali court on Wednesday and has been sent to 3-day police custody.

The action on spy networks within the country comes in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 people dead and the four-day military conflict with Pakistan that followed.