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NDTV
20 hours ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Ex-Pakistan Cop Mastermind Of Cross-Border Spy Ring, Says Arrested YouTuber
New Delhi: Ex-Pakistan Cop Mastermind Of Cross-Border Spy Ring, Says Arrested YouTuber A former sub-inspector from the Pakistan Police ranks was among the masterminds of a cross-border espionage racket, which various Indians have been found to be a part of. Punjab YouTuber Jasbir Singh, who was arrested earlier this week for allegedly spying for Pakistan, disclosed during interrogation that the former cop Nasir Dhillon had introduced him to Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) officials in Lahore. He had also arranged Jasbir Singh's meeting with ISI operative Danish in Pakistan. Nasir Dhillon, who is now a YouTuber, used to connect Indian social media personalities with ISI operative Danish alias Ehsan-ur-Rehman, who worked as a visa officer in the Pakistani embassy in Delhi. Danish was expelled from India in May, after travel vlogger Jyoti Malhotra was exposed for spying for the country with whom ties have plummeted since the April 22 Pahalgam attack and May 7 Operation Sindoor strikes. Both Jasbir Singh and Nasir Dhillon know Jyoti Malhotra, who runs the travel YouTube account 'Travel With Jo', and was among the first of spies in the alleged Islamabad-run espionage ring to be arrested. Further, police have found that Danish used to call the spies as guests to the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi and assign tasks. Security agencies also suspect that hundreds of former police personnel of Pakistan Police are part of the espionage racket, which targets Indian YouTubers. Jasbir Singh, who runs a YouTube channel named 'JaanMahal video' and has over a million subscribers, was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly passing on information on Indian forces' movement to the ISI. He was allegedly in contact with an ISI officer named Shakir, alias Jutt Randhawa, who was part of a terror-backed spying network, said Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav. He had visited Pakistan thrice, and several Pakistani numbers were found on his devices, which are now under forensic probe. He had also attended the Pakistan National Day program held at the Pakistani Embassy in Delhi on Danish's invitation. After Jyoti Malhotra's arrest, Jasbir Singh tried to erase the traces of his communications with Pakistani officials to avoid detection, said DGP Yadav. Others facing spying charges include a student from Patiala's Khalsa College, Davendra Singh Dhillon. The 25-year-old was arrested in Haryana after he uploaded photos of a pistol on Facebook, and his Pakistan links emerged during his questioning. Nauman Ilahi, a 24-year-old security guard in Haryana, was found to be in touch with an ISI handler in Pakistan, and used to receive money in the account of his brother-in-law. A 28-year-old health worker from Gujarat Sahdev Singh Gohil was arrested for transmitting sensitive information related to Indian military infrastructure to a Pakistani operative. Arman, 23, and Tarif, both from Haryana's Nuh district, were arrested within days of each other. Tarif was caught trying to delete chats with Pakistani numbers when police arrived at his residence. Shakur Khan, a Rajasthan government employee from Jaisalmer, was also arrested on spying charges.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- General
- Indian Express
Trapping social media influencers: ISI's strategy to weave an espionage-cum-propaganda network
Investigations into Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) latest modus operandi of espionage have revealed a concentrated effort to invite, entice, and then co-opt social media influencers through a variety of lures to build a web of informers among the community. Speaking to The Indian Express, a senior official said the cases of Hisar-based YouTube channel operator Jyoti Malhotra and Ropar-based Jasbir Singh, who also ran a YouTube channel, are not isolated, and are part of a well-planned operation by ISI to increase its reach through the twin aims of collecting information and spreading propaganda. Central intelligence agencies and the Punjab Police have been unravelling the spy network which was cultivated by several officials based in the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. Two staff members of the High Commission have already been thrown out of India after the government declared them persona non grata. 'ISI has been using a variety of tools to reach out to social media influencers not only in Punjab but across the country in order to weave an espionage-cum-propaganda network, which works out in favour of Pakistan. The first step is to invite the influencers of various platforms like YouTube, Instagram, X, Snapchat, etc, to the get-togethers of the Pakistan High Commission, and then offer them visas to visit Pakistan,' the official said. Once the influencer travels to Pakistan, the next step of the operation kicks in, under which enticements may be offered by way of cash and kind, including the honeytrap method, which would be used to coerce them into doing their bidding. 'It is a slow process, and often multiple visits are encouraged to Pakistan, and the confidence level in ISI operatives who are working under cover is gradually built up. When the target knowingly or unknowingly makes a false step and falls into their clutches, they close the trap, making it difficult for the influencer to back out,' the official said. Pakistan's efforts to entice Indian YouTube channel operators for espionage stem from a combination of strategic, geopolitical, and tactical motives. Leveraging social media influence for soft power and propaganda is boosted by the reach and credibility. YouTubers, especially those with large followings (Jasbir Singh with 1.1 million subscribers and Jyoti Malhotra with 377,000–381,000 subscribers), have significant online influence. Their content can shape public perceptions, making them valuable for projecting pro-Pakistan narratives or countering anti-Pakistan sentiment in India, say investigators. By encouraging influencers to create content like 'Indian Girl in Pakistan', as seen in the case of Jyoti Malhotra, Pakistan aims to portray a positive image, potentially softening public opinion in India or globally. This aligns with 'soft power' strategies to influence narratives subtly while gathering intelligence. Influencers can also play a vital role in covert operations as they are less likely to arouse suspicion compared to traditional spies, as their travel vlogs and cultural exchanges appear innocuous, providing a cover for espionage activities. ISI has also been found to be exploiting the financial vulnerabilities of influencers, as most YouTubers rely on views, sponsorships, or external funding. Pakistani operatives offer financial rewards, sponsored trips (like Malhotra's visits to Pakistan in 2023), or other incentives to lure influencers, exploiting their need for content and revenue. Intelligence officials say that in the wake of Operation Sindoor and heightened India-Pakistan tensions, ISI likely seeks real-time intelligence on Indian military movements, cantonment details, and strategic operations, especially in border states like Punjab. 'Punjab's proximity to the India-Pakistan border makes it a focal point for espionage. YouTubers travelling in these regions can inadvertently or deliberately gather and share information about troop deployments, infrastructure, or security arrangements, which can be vital to the enemy who wants to collect granular data,' another official said.
News18
3 days ago
- Politics
- News18
YouTuber Jasbir Singh Seen With Arrested Jyoti Malhotra In Pakistan's Lahore In Old Video
Last Updated: A Punjab-based YouTuber alleged to be in close touch with influencer Jyoti Malhotra, in custody on charges of spying for Pakistan. Punjabi YouTuber Jasbir Singh Mahal was arrested for allegedly being linked to an espionage network run by Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence (ISI). Reportedly, he was in close touch with influencer Jyoti Malhotra, who is currently in custody on charges of spying for Pakistan. Singh has travelled to Pakistan thrice in the past few years — 2020, 2021 and 2024. After Jasbir Singh's arrest, an old video of him surfaced online showing him travelling around in Pakistan's Lahore last year. Travel vlogger Jyoti Malhotra, who was arrested last month for allegedly spying for Pakistan, can also be seen in the video. Jasbir Singh and Jyoti Malhotra were seen enjoying street food, shopping, and interacting with the locals in the video. Jasbir Singh was found to be associated with a Pakistani Intelligence Operative (PIO) Shakir alias Jutt Randhawa, who is a part of a terror-backed espionage network, Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said. Punjab YouTuber Arrested A resident of Mahlan village in Rupnagar district, Singh has a YouTube channel with over 10 lakh subscribers. He was allegedly in close contact with Malhotra who was earlier arrested by Haryana Police on espionage charges. "Jasbir Singh, who operates a YouTube channel called 'Jaan Mahal', has been found associated with PIO Shakir alias Jutt Randhawa, part of a terror-backed espionage network," the Punjab Police informed. He also maintained contact with Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, a Pakistani national who was expelled as an official of the Pakistan High Commission. 'Investigations have revealed that Jasbir attended the Pakistan National Day event in Delhi on Danish's invitation, where he met Pakistani Army officials and vloggers. He travelled to Pakistan on three occasions (2020, 2021, 2024), and his electronic devices contained multiple Pakistan-based numbers, now under detailed forensic scrutiny," he added. After Malhotra's arrest, Singh attempted to erase all traces of his communications with the PIOs and Jyoti Malhotra to avoid detection. An FIR has been registered at the State Special Operation Cell in Mohali. "Investigations are underway to dismantle the broader espionage-terror network and identify all collaborators, he added. The 33-year-old Hisar native Malhotra, who was running a YouTube channel 'Travel with JO', was arrested last month. On May 13, India expelled Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, who was posted at the Pakistan High Commission, for allegedly indulging in espionage. 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. (With agency inputs) First Published: June 04, 2025, 15:18 IST
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
YouTubers Jasbir Singh, Jyoti Malhotra seen together in Pakistan's Lahore in old video
Punjabi YouTuber Jasbir Singh Mahal was arrested for allegedly being linked to an espionage network run by Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence (ISI). After Jasbir Singh's arrest, an old video from his channel has surfaced that shows him travelling around in Pakistan's Lahore last year. Travel vlogger Jyoti Malhotra, who was arrested last month for allegedly spying for Pakistan, can also be seen in the video. The video, shot in various locations in Lahore, shows several people, including Jasbir Singh and Jyoti Malhotra, enjoying street food, shopping, and interacting with the locals. Jasbir Singh also visited Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, as seen in the video. Based on actionable intelligence, the State Special Operations Cell (SSOC), Mohali, found Jasbir Singh to be associated with PIO Shakir alias Jutt Randhawa, who is a part of a terror-backed espionage network. Randhawa is the same person who was also in touch with Jyoti Malhotra, and she told the cops that she had saved his number with that name so that it wouldn't raise suspicion. He was also in contact with Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, a Pakistani national and expelled Pakistan High Commission official. Danish's name also emerged in the Jyoti Malhotra spy case. The crackdown started last month amid India's Operation Sindoor, targeting terror hubs in PoK and Pakistan's Punjab province. The operation was carried out in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people in Jammu and Kashmir's resort town. The strikes killed over a 100 terrorists but also resulted in a clash between India and Pakistan. Since then, more than a dozen people have been arrested for alleged espionage, including several YouTubers like Jasbir Singh and Jyoti Malhotra. Jasbir Singh Mahal is a resident of the village of Mahlan in Punjab's Rupnagar district. He runs a YouTube channel named Jaan Mahal and has posted thousands of videos in its 18 years of existence. Born in Punjab, Singh makes daily vlogs about travelling and his daily life. According to the bio of his YouTube channel, he aims to give meaningful information to viewers about Punjab and its culture. He started the channel in 2008 and has posted 2,985 videos with 1.1M subscribers. His channel features videos of his visits to the Maldives, Singapore, Malaysia, and Jammu and Kashmir.
News18
21-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
'Get Me Married In Pakistan': YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra Told ISI Operative In Leaked Chats
Last Updated: Jyoti Malhotra's purported leaked WhatsApp chats reveal her praise for Pakistan and desire to get married there. She reportedly expressed this to Ali Hasan, an ISI operative. Amid social media buzz suggesting arrested YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra was married to Pakistan High Commission official Danish, some of her WhatsApp chats have now reportedly revealed she wanted to get married in Pakistan. According to multiple reports, Jyoti Malhotra's WhatsApp chats with Ali Hasan, who worked for the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), have surfaced, wherein the 'spy' YouTuber praised Pakistan and expressed her wish to get married there. 'Get me married in Pakistan", Jyoti reportedly wrote in one of her messages to Hasan, in response to his good wishes for her. 'Jo (Jyoti), I pray you stay happy always, may you keep smiling and never face disappointments in life," Hasan reportedly texted her in Hindi. This comes hours after it was learnt that Jyoti Malhotra leaked to Pakistan details on the imposition of a blackout in India during 'Operation Sindoor'. She was also in contact with Danish while the operation was underway. However, investigations revealed that Jyoti had allegedly deleted her chats with Danish in March this year. Meanwhile, her phones and laptops were seized for further investigations in the case. First Published: May 21, 2025, 13:03 IST
