Chandigarh: YouTuber Jasbir Singh, who runs the channel ‘Jaan Mahal’ that has 1.1 million subscribers, has been arrested on charges of spying for Pakistan.
The Punjab Police’s State Special Operations Cell (SSOC) in Mohali has launched a detailed investigation into the activities of Singh, who is also known to have been in touch with YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, who was arrested earlier on similar charges.
“Acting swiftly on actionable intelligence, SSOC Mohali has unearthed a critical espionage network linked to Jasbir Singh, a resident of Village Mahlan, Rupnagar,” the Director General of Punjab Police posted on X.
Just as Malhotra, Singh was in contact with Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, a Pakistani Intelligence Officer (PIO) posted at the country’s High Commission in Delhi. Danish was subsequently expelled by India on espionage charges.
“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,” the Punjab Police DG added.
The police have claimed that Singh also had links with PIO Shakir alias Jutt Randhawa, part of a terror-backed espionage network.
After Malhotra’s arrest, Singh tried to erase all traces of his communications with these PIOs to avoid detection, the DGP said, adding that an FIR has been registered at SSOC in Mohali in this matter.
“Investigations are underway to dismantle the broader espionage-terror network and identify all collaborators. @PunjabPoliceInd reaffirms its unwavering commitment to safeguarding national security and neutralizing all threats posed by such anti-national elements,” he said.
Punjab Police have arrested seven persons so far on charges of spying for Pakistan.
