YouTubers, businessman: 4 Indians under scanner over Pakistan spying allegations
Indian intelligence and law enforcement agencies, who are on high alert against Islamabad's subversive activities in the wake of Operation Sindoor, have opened probes against at least four Indians over suspected links with Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), which breeds, fosters and trains cross-border terrorism. Who are they?
Also read: YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra visited Pakistan before Pahalgam attack, had also travelled to China
The Hisar police last week arrested YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra on charges of espionage. The police said that Pakistani intelligence operatives (PIOs) were grooming her to become an ISI asset.
The police revealed that Malhotra had visited Pakistan several times, including a trip before the Pahalgam terror attack, and had also travelled to China.
The police said central agencies had informed the Haryana Police that PIOs were actively recruiting social media influencers to promote soft narratives.
They said Malhotra was in direct contact with PIOs, including individuals declared persona non grata by India.
"She had interacted with several high-profile individuals during her visits to Pakistan. Even though her arrest happened recently, intelligence agencies were already monitoring her activities closely," a senior police officer told HT.
The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force on Sunday arrested a businessman for allegedly working as an agent of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence. Shahzad was apprehended on Sunday by the STF Moradabad unit following inputs about his alleged involvement in cross-border smuggling and espionage activities for the ISI, reported PTI.
The authorities accused him of passing sensitive information related to national security to his handlers in Pakistan. He also travelled to the country several times.
On May 17, the Haryana police arrested Devendra, a resident of Mastgarh Cheeka village in Kaithal, for allegedly passing information to the Pakistan army and ISI during the recent India-Pakistan conflict.
DSP Kaithal Veerbhan said, "The district police of Kaithal received intelligence information, and on that basis, our special detective staff arrested Devendra, son of Narwal Singh, resident of village Mastgarh Cheeka."
As per the Police, Devendra, during his interrogation, told police that he was in contact with the Pakistan intelligence agency, ISI.
"After taking him into custody, he was questioned. During that interrogation, he said that he was in contact with the Pakistan intelligence agency, ISI. 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. Our staff at the cyber police station is doing a thorough investigation into the devices found with him. Whatever the truth may come out, the law will be followed accordingly," he added.
YouTuber Priyanka Senapati, known for travel videos, is also being investigated in connection with a case involving fellow creator Jyoti Malhotra.
Priyanka Senapati, who also visited Kartarpur in Pakistan three to four months ago, had developed a friendship with Jyoti.
Also read: Odisha YouTuber Priyanka Senapati under IB scanner in Jyoti Malhotra spy case
Puri superintendent of police (SP) Vinit Agrawal said Priyanka is being investigated from all angles, and the agencies are scrutinising her relationship with Jyoti and her travel to the Kartarpur corridor.
With inputs from PTI, ANI
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
5 minutes ago
- Time of India
‘Call me a fugitive, not a thief': Vijay Mallya says sorry for Kingfisher crash, not the ‘chor' tag
Vijay Mallya publicly apologized for the failure of Kingfisher Airlines, acknowledging its collapse while denying allegations of theft and criminal intent. He defended his decision to stay away from India, asserting he didn't 'run away' but left on a pre-scheduled visit. Mallya expressed willingness to return to India if assured a fair trial and dignified life. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Business tycoon Vijay Mallya issued a rare and public apology for the failure of Kingfisher Airlines , while strongly denying allegations of theft and defending his reasons for staying away from India 'I apologise to everyone for the failure of Kingfisher Airlines ,' Mallya said during a four-hour podcast with entrepreneur Raj Shamani released on Thursday, acknowledging the collapse of the now-defunct airline that once symbolised his flamboyant business he maintained that the situation was more complex than often portrayed and denied any criminal intent Moreover, in the podcast, Mallya said he would consider returning to India if assured of a fair trial and a dignified existence. "If I have a fair assurance of a fair trail and dignified existence in India, I will think about it (returning to India) seriously."Addressing the allegations of financial misconduct , Mallya said, 'You may call me a fugitive , but I didn't run away. I flew on a prescheduled visit. Fair enough, I didn't return for reasons that I consider are valid… so if you want to call me a fugitive, go ahead. But where is the 'chor' (thief) coming from? Where is the 'chori' (theft)?'The former businessman is accused of defaulting on loans worth over ₹9,000 crore extended to Kingfisher Airlines by a consortium of Indian banks. He has been fighting extradition proceedings in the United Kingdom, where he has lived since multiple legal setbacks, including a UK court ruling in favor of his extradition in 2018, Mallya continues to contest his return to India, citing unfair treatment and media trials.
United News of India
13 minutes ago
- United News of India
CJI Gavai champions cross-border legal synergy at ICA London conference
New Delhi / London, June 5 (UNI) Chief Justice of India Justice B R Gavai inaugurated the third International Conference on 'Arbitrating Indo-UK Commercial Disputes: Synergizing India–UK Arbitration Practices' in London on Thursday. The high-level event, hosted by the Indian Council of Arbitration (ICA) during London International Disputes Week, brought together legal luminaries, judges, policymakers, and commercial dispute resolution experts from both nations to strengthen ties in arbitration and mediation. Delivering the inaugural address, CJI Gavai remarked, 'India and the United Kingdom share a rich history, bound by the tradition of arbitration and mediation rooted in our common law heritage.' The conference was also addressed by Union Minister of Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal, Lord Michael Briggs, Judge of the UK Supreme Court, Justice Hima Kohli, Supreme Court of India, Vikram Doraiswami, High Commissioner of India to the UK, and eminent lawyers including Harish Salve KC and Geeta Luthra, Vice President of ICA. CJI Gavai reflected on India's arbitration journey, invoking Mahatma Gandhi's commitment to mediation as foundational. 'Disputes are inevitable. What defines a strong commercial relationship is our commitment to resolve them efficiently,' he stated. He emphasised India's progress through amendments to the Arbitration and Conciliation Act (notably 2019), the establishment of the Arbitration Council of India, and the 2024 Bill proposing emergency arbitration and appellate tribunals. He lauded the UK's 2025 reforms in its Arbitration Act, promoting summary disposal and legal clarity. Justice Gavai drew from key Indian rulings, including BALCO, Vijay Karia, Amazon versus Future Retail and Gayatri Balasamy, to emphasise judicial minimalism and finality in arbitration. He noted, 'When arbitral awards are upheld without unnecessary interference, it enhances predictability, business trust, and investor confidence.' The CJI praised the growth of Indian institutions like DIAC, MCIA, and IIAC, while commending LCIA's role as a global benchmark. He stressed the importance of collaboration between Indian and UK arbitration bodies to raise global standards. Justice Gavai applauded the adoption of Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) and hybrid systems such as Arb-Med-Arb. He called the Bar Council of India's recent move to allow foreign lawyers to advise on arbitration in India a 'landmark reform' that balances global openness with domestic integrity. CJI Gavai humorously outlined four transformative reforms he would introduce with a "magical wand". 'If I Had a Wand…,' CJI said, "I would make four reforms for India's Arbitration Regime." Finality of Arbitral Awards – Arbitration must be the final word, not an invitation for years of litigation. Mainstream Institutional Arbitration -- The Arbitration centres should be the norm, not an exception. Elimination of Delays -- Procedural fairness should not become a tool for tactical stalling. Diversity in Arbitrators -- The arbitrator pool must reflect varied perspectives and backgrounds for better outcomes. Chief Justice Gavai concluded by affirming India's unwavering commitment to becoming a preferred global seat for arbitration. He said, 'As India and the UK grow increasingly interconnected in commerce and law, our shared democratic values and legal traditions provide a strong foundation for a unified, efficient, and trustworthy dispute resolution system.' The conference echoed a resounding call for legal harmonisation, technology-driven arbitration, and cross-border cooperation with the shared goal of easing court pendency and bolstering investor confidence through strong alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. The event brought together senior dignitaries and legal experts from both India and the UK, including Chief Justice of India B R Gavai (inaugural address), Lord Briggs of Westbourne, Judge of the UK Supreme Court (keynote address), Vikram Doraiswami, High Commissioner of India to the UK (special address), Justice Hima Kohli, Supreme Court of India, Harish Salve KC, Senior Advocate and International Arbitrator, Sujit Ghosh, Deputy High Commissioner of India to the UK, Arun Chawla, Director General, ICA, Geeta Luthra, Senior Advocate and Vice President, ICA, Dr N G Khaitan, President of ICA and Senior Partner at Khaitan and Co, and Karishma Vora, Barrister at 39 Essex Chambers, London and Member of the ICA International Advisory Committee. UNI SNG SS
&w=3840&q=100)
India.com
15 minutes ago
- India.com
How Does Pakistan Keep Getting Loans? Unpacking The Dirty Secrets Behind The Global Funding That Shields A Failing State
New Delhi: Pakistan is broke. Its economy is shattered. Foreign reserves are vanishing. Yet it keeps getting blank cheques. Weeks after the International Monetry Fund (IMF) handed it over $1 billion in emergency funds plus an additional $1.3 billion in loans, the nuclear-armed state got another $800 million from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). India protested. The world ignored. And it is not the first time. Why does a nation with internal chaos and globally infamous for harboring terrorists keeps getting rewarded? Despite global acknowledgment of Pakistan's double-faced policies – begging for aid while exporting 'jihad' – the money keeps flowing. So what makes Pakistan the global community's 'spoiled child with a nuclear button'? The answer is not economic. It is political, strategic and dangerously hypocritical. Let's get this straight: Pakistan is not getting loans because it deserves them. It is getting them because the world is afraid of what will happen if it collapses. Its economy is in tatters. Pakistan's forex reserves dipped in 2023 below $3 billion – barely enough for three weeks of imports. The 2022 floods cost the country more than $30 billion in damages. 1. Too Nuclear to Fail: Pakistan's debt has ballooned to over $130 billion. If it defaults, global banks lose billions. It is financial blackmail that is working. 2. Location: Sitting between China, Afghanistan and Iran, the country holds strategic real estate. The West, especially the United States, does not want it slipping entirely into China's orbit. 3. A Loan with Strings: These are not freebies. IMF and ADB loans come with demands – raise taxes, cut subsidies and sell public assets. Western companies often swoop in to buy the leftovers. Global lending institutions like the IMF and the ADB may present themselves as neutral bodies, but their actions suggest otherwise. They claim to operate on technical grounds, but do not blink twice when handing over billions to a country that fuels terrorism in Kashmir and harbors global fugitives. And where is India in this equation? Despite protests after attacks like Pahalgam, New Delhi's influence is minimal. India's voting share in the IMF is small compared to the United States and Europe. Meanwhile, Pakistan's removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list in 2022 made getting loans even easier. The United States sees Pakistan as a pawn in its Afghanistan endgame. China, through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), is turning it into a client state. Loans are just the leash – a way to pull Pakistan closer when needed and push it when not. Who Really Benefits? Not the people of Pakistan. Experts like Sushant Sareen argue these loans fatten the Pakistani military, not fuel reforms. Former diplomat Kanwal Sibal warns that the IMF funding indirectly supports terror. Even former Pakistani envoy Husain Haqqani admits that the IMF is an ICU for Pakistan, not a cure. These loans do not save Pakistan. They sustain it just enough to remain a useful mess. A mess that is allowed to fester because it serves the interests of those who pretend to fix it. Pakistan is not only playing the victim, it is gaming the system and the system is letting it.
