Espionage case: Punjab YouTuber remanded to police custody
Haryana Police had summoned Punjab-based YouTuber Jasbir Singh on June 6 in the Jyoti Malhotra espionage case but before he could join the investigation, he was arrested by Punjab Police, Singh's counsel claimed on Saturday (June 7, 2025).
He also denied the charge that Singh was an agent of Pakistan's spy agency ISI.
A Mohali court on Saturday (June 7, 2025) extended for two days the police remand of Singh, who was arrested on espionage charges on June 4.
Singh was produced before the court after his three-day police remand ended on Saturday (June 7, 2025).
Police sought a seven-day remand of Singh but the court granted them two days, said his counsel.
Jasbir Singh alias Jaan Mahal (41), a resident of village Mahlan in Rupnagar district, was running a YouTube channel 'JaanMahal Video' with over 11 lakh subscribers, ostensibly posting travel and cooking vlogs.
Also read: Jyoti Rani's police didn't have access to secret information, says Police
Singh was allegedly in close touch with Haryana-based influencer Jyoti Malhotra, who is in custody on charges of spying for Pakistan.
After Singh's arrest, Punjab police had claimed that it unearthed a 'terror-backed espionage network' linking him to Pakistani intelligence and army officials.
Police had said that the YouTuber was allegedly spying for Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
Speaking to reporters on Saturday (June 7, 2025), Singh's counsel, Mohit Dhupar, said he met him in the court on Saturday (June 7, 2025).
'We spoke to him. There is no such thing that is being said in the media that he was an ISI agent,' said Dhupar, claiming he was just a vlogger. Dhupar said Singh was summoned by Punjab Police from May 17 till May 30.
He had already given his mobile phone and laptop to the police, said the counsel. Dhupar said on June 2, Hisar police summoned Singh to join the investigation in the Jyoti Malhotra case on June 6. When Punjab Police came to know about him being summoned by the Haryana police, Singh was asked to appear on June 3 and he was arrested on June 4, said the counsel.
'Punjab Police might have felt that if Haryana Police arrested Singh, it would be their insult', claimed Dhupar.
The counsel said there was no mention of Singh being summoned from May 17 to May 30 in the FIR.
Hisar native Malhotra (33) who was running a YouTube channel 'Travel with JO' was arrested last month. To a question on Punjab Police claiming that 150 Pakistani contacts were retrieved from his phone, Dhupar said there was no such thing.
'Many people visited Pakistan multiple times. Did they become guilty (of doing wrong) by visiting the neighbouring nation,' he said while replying to a question.
On Pakistani YouTuber Nasir Dhillon's alleged link to a spy network, Dhupar said the police did not take Dhillon's name in the court while seeking Singh's remand.
Nasir Dhillon, a former Pakistani police official, runs a YouTube channel 'Punjabi Lehar'. He has claimed to unite families divided during partition in 1947. His role is reportedly under investigation for possible links to the espionage network unearthed by Indian authorities.
Asked whether Singh gave his laptop to Pakistani official Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, Dhupar denied it and said when Singh visited Pakistan, his laptop was examined for a routine security check.
On May 13, India expelled Danish, who was posted at the Pakistan High Commission, for allegedly indulging in espionage.
Jasbir Singh was allegedly found to be associated with a Pakistani Intelligence Operative (PIO). He was in contact with a Pakistan High Commission official who was recently expelled from New Delhi on charges of spying and had met Pakistan Army officials during one of his three visits to the neighbouring country, police had earlier said.
He was allegedly in close contact with Jyoti Malhotra, who was earlier arrested by Haryana Police on espionage charges. Singh was found to be associated with Pakistani Intelligence Operative (PIO) Shakir, alias Jutt Randhawa.
The accused had also travelled to Pakistan on three occasions including in 2020, 2021 and 2024, and came into direct contact with ISI officers, who subsequently cultivated and recruited him to carry out espionage activities within India, police had said.
Investigations revealed that Singh attended the Pakistan National Day event in Delhi on Danish's invitation, where he met Pakistani Army officials and vloggers. After Jyoti Malhotra's arrest, accused Singh had attempted to erase all traces of his communications with these PIOs to avoid detection, police had said.
The police had alleged that Singh was in touch with many Pakistan-based entities, including ISI agents and had been providing sensitive information about the movement of the Indian Army and other inside activities of the country to Pakistan.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
36 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Tensions in Manipur over arrest rumours of volunteers of Meitei outfit
Two journalists and a civilian were injured as tensions flared in Imphal city late on Saturday evening following unconfirmed reports of the arrest of five volunteers of Arambai Tenggol, a Meitei group, including one of the group's commanders, people familiar with the matter said. An irate mob stormed the Kwakeithel Police Outpost in Imphal West, demanding the immediate release of the arrested individuals. In response, security forces fired several rounds to disperse the crowd. During the incident, at least three people, including two journalists, sustained injuries. According to unconfirmed reports, the arrests were made at around 2.30pm by a team from the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba was also seen at the scene, attempting to speak with senior security personnel regarding the situation. In a purported video circulated on social media groups, Leishemba could be heard saying, 'We tried very hard to bring peace. If you do such things, how will peace come? Arrest me along with the MLA....' There was not official statement from the Manipur police till the time of going to press. ALSO READ | Union Home secretary discusses border fencing, law & order situation with Manipur Governor Separately, officials in New Delhi said that the Union home ministry representatives will hold a meeting with representatives of Kuki-Zo militant groups, who are signatories to the Suspension of Operations (SoO) pact with the Centre. They are expected to meet in the national capital on Monday. This is the first general meeting since the pact was put in abeyance last year. While there was no confirmation from the MHA or the Manipur-based groups, a person aware of the details said all representatives from SoO will attend the meeting. 'All representatives from the SoO groups will be in Delhi. This is the first general meeting called by the MHA. We do not know if Manipur state administration officials will be present or not. It was a tripartite agreement between our groups, state government and Centre to suspend all operations from both sides,' this person said requesting anonymity. The tripartite SoO agreement was signed by the Centre, the Manipur government and Kuki militant groups in August 2008, and was renewed every year until February 28 last year when it was kept abeyance. The renewal process was halted after allegations against SoO group cadres indulging in the ethnic clashes in Manipur and training village defence volunteers — the groups have denied both charges. The person cited above said that over the last year, SoO groups have addressed some queries raised by the MHA. 'The ground rules for the pact were set to be revised so MHA has asked SoO groups many questions. All these were presented to the MHA. We expect something positive from the meeting,' the official added. The questions pertained to location of camps, the weapons that are in a double lock system and the need for having new camps. ALSO READ | Protest over 'Manipur' name removal on govt bus; Police fire tear gas, 8 injured While former chief minister N Biren Singh and his MLAs have demanded that the SoO agreement be cancelled, Kuki-Zo groups and their legislators have requested Centre to renew the pact. At the time of the signing of agreement in 2008, the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People's Front (UPF) agreed to cease any form of violence. The central and state governments also agreed that no force (army, paramilitary, or state police) would launch operations against the signatories as long as they abide by the terms of the agreement. However, the SoO was unilaterally suspended by the Biren Singh government on March 2023 — roughly two months before the ethnic clashes broke out — saying that some members of the groups were illegal migrants. The suspension, along with a Manipur high court order that directed the state to ensure Meiteis get the scheduled tribes status, are believed to be triggers for the violence that has roiled the state for over two years. A senior security official, who asked not to be named, said, 'Agencies have regularly given reports about the SoO groups. There have been cases of SoO militants being arrested in some cases of violence during the last two years. It is a critical issue. Whatever happens to the SoO pact will definitely have an impact in Manipur. They are influential and have a lot of clout among not just Kuki-Zo civilians but also their political leaders.' The earlier rules of the SoO pact directed cadres of the militant groups to stay in designated camps, with the routine administration of camps being handled by the groups. The rules also mandated that no more than 20% of cadres will be allowed to leave the camp at any given time. State government and joint monitoring group (JMG) members were to conduct inspections at the camp to check for violations. All weapons were to be held within the camp's armoury in a double locking system, with one key being with the group and other with the concerned security force.
Indian Express
37 minutes ago
- Indian Express
As Pakistan fails to get into ‘expected' UNSC panels, India in talks with friends
India is working with its partners and friends on the UN Security Council to blunt Pakistan's moves, as Islamabad has been appointed to key counter-terror committees at the UNSC. Sources in New York told The Indian Express that Pakistan demanded to be the chair of the 1267 Sanctions Committee; 1540 (Non-Proliferation) Sanctions Committee; 1988 (Taliban) Committee and Chair of the 1373 Counter Terrorism Committee (CTC). Sources said the allocation of positions 'should have been undertaken by January 2025'. It is learnt that a 'lack of consensus and unreasonable demands' by Pakistan prevented a consensus being formed till June 2025. 'The Council members were not happy with this … attitude depicted by the Pakistan,' a source said. Pakistan had to be satisfied with 'only one full Chairship' — Chair of the 1988 (Taliban) Sanctions Committee [Russia and Guyana are the Vice-Chairs], sources said . The other positions are Vice-Chair of the 1373 CTC [along with France and Russia]; Sanctions Informal Working Group (IWG) [Co-Chair with Greece] and Documentation IWG [Co-chair with Denmark.] 'The… positions allocated to Pakistan is far below its… aspirations,' the source said. India also chaired the same 1988 (Taliban) Sanctions Committee during its UNSC 2021-22 term along with the Chair of the 1970 Libya Sanctions Committee. Sources said the position of Vice-Chair of 1373 CTC which Pakistan was allocated is 'not something very substantive'. 'It is… more ceremonial in nature. Pakistan… has not been able to get its way. India was the Chair of the 1373 CTC in 2022. India had earlier also, during its 2011-12 UNSC term, chaired the 1373 CTC.' For the first time in the history of the UNSC, an IWG will have two co-Chairs. This can be interpreted as a move by the Council to rein in Pakistan. Despite the Pakistani delegation's visit to the UN, the result is not something Pakistan will be happy with. This reflects Pakistan's standing and credibility in the UN, sources said. Sources said all the major terrorist attacks and networks have their origins in Pakistan. Some examples are: Sources said Pakistan's role as a state sponsor of terrorism is well known. 'Out of around 254 individuals and 89 entities designated in the 1267 Sanctions Committee (Al-Qaeda and ISIL), Pakistan has the unrivalled distinction of over 50 individuals and entities linked to it designated in the 1267 Sanctions Committee… it is Pakistan which is at unease… that more of its nationals and entities will be added to the Sanctions Committees/Regimes.' The source said India will be working 'closely with friends' in the Council. Shubhajit Roy, Diplomatic Editor at The Indian Express, has been a journalist for more than 25 years now. Roy joined The Indian Express in October 2003 and has been reporting on foreign affairs for more than 17 years now. Based in Delhi, he has also led the National government and political bureau at The Indian Express in Delhi — a team of reporters who cover the national government and politics for the newspaper. He has got the Ramnath Goenka Journalism award for Excellence in Journalism '2016. He got this award for his coverage of the Holey Bakery attack in Dhaka and its aftermath. He also got the IIMCAA Award for the Journalist of the Year, 2022, (Jury's special mention) for his coverage of the fall of Kabul in August 2021 — he was one of the few Indian journalists in Kabul and the only mainstream newspaper to have covered the Taliban's capture of power in mid-August, 2021. ... Read More
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Cop at Bopdev Ghat help centre extorts Rs 28,000 from youths
Pune: Kondhwa police on Saturday filed a complaint against a constable and his friend for assaulting a youth from Chennai and his friends, who came to Bopdev Ghat for photography, and extorting Rs 28,000 on the pretext of filing a case against them. The incident occurred between 7 am and 9 am on June 5. The constable posted at Bopdev Ghat help centre was later suspended. Senior inspector Vinayak Patankar said, "We have served notices to constable Vikram Wadtile and his friend Kedar Jadhav, directing them to join the police in the investigation because they were charged with offences punishable up to seven years." Patankar said the 19-year-old Chennai-based youth, who is the complainant in the case, visited Pune to meet his grandparents. On June 5, the youth and his two friends visited Bopdev Ghat to take photographs and took a hookah pot with them. After a recent gang-rape incident involving a 20-year-old event management student at Bopdev Ghat, a police help centre had been set up there. Wadtile was stationed at the help centre. According to Patankar, "Wadtile questioned the youth and his two friends and searched their bag, where he found the hookah pot. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo He assaulted them and threatened to register a criminal case even though the victims tried to convince him that the hookah pot was meant to be used as a sprop during shooting of photos. Wadtile then took them to the Kondhwa police station." The police officer said, "At the entrance of the police station, Wadtile stopped the vehicle and told the youths that they would be taken to Sassoon General Hospital for a medical examination and their future would be ruined." He initially demanded Rs 25,000 from each of them. When they said they didn't have that much money, they agreed to settle by transferring Rs 28,000 online to Kedar Jadhav's account. After receiving the money, Wadtile let them go. " The complainant grew suspicious and came to the police station to verify whether Wadtile was indeed a policeman. "He informed me about the incident. The youth did not know Wadtile's name but described his physical appearance. I conducted an inquiry, which revealed that Wadtile indeed threatened and extorted money from the youths. After the extortion case was registered, Wadtile and Jadhav returned Rs 28,000 to the youth," the officer said. Deputy commissioner of police (Zone V) Rajkumar Shinde suspended Wadtile pending departmental inquiry. He said that the cop had been held responsible for tarnishing the image of the police department due to his actions.
