150 Pakistani Contacts, Links To ISI: Details From 'Spy' Jasbir Singh's Probe
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Jasbir Singh is the second content creator held in recent weeks in the investigation in which Haryana-based YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra was arrested earlier.
Punjab Youtuber Jasbir Singh, who was arrested by the Punjab Police's State Special Operations Cell (SSOC), Mohali, for his alleged involvement in a Pakistan-backed espionage network, has been remanded to two more days of police custody by Mohali court.
Singh was produced before the local court in Mohali on Saturday after his three-day police remand ended. The state police sought a seven-day remand but the court granted them two more days of custody, Singh's counsel said.
He is the second content creator held in recent weeks in the investigation in which Haryana-based YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra was arrested earlier.
Jasbir Singh alias Jaan Mahal (41), a resident of Village Mahlan in Rupnagar, has been operating a YouTube channel "JaanMahal Video" with over 11 lakh subscribers, ostensibly posting travel and cooking vlogs.
Police Found 150 Pak Contacts From His Phone
According to the police, the YouTuber had visited Pakistan six times and had around 150 contact numbers from the neighbouring country in his phone.
After his arrest, Singh told the police during remand that he had given his laptop to a Pakistan intelligence officer for around an hour.
Singh was in touch with Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) operative Danish alias Ehsan-ur-Rehman, who worked as a visa officer in the Pakistani embassy in Delhi.
Singh also told the police that Danish had ordered some SIM cards from him.
Investigations have revealed that Singh had attended the Pakistan National Day event in Delhi on Danish's invitation, where he met Pakistani Army officials and vloggers.
The accused has 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.
Earlier, Singh was found to be associated with Pakistan Intelligence Officer Shakir alias Jutt Randhawa. He also disclosed during police interrogation that former Pakistan cop Nasir Dhillon had introduced him to ISI officials in Lahore.
Attempted Cover-Up By Jasbir Singh
Following the arrest of Jyoti Malhotra, Jasbir Singh is believed to have attempted to erase traces of his links with ISI handlers. However, forensic examination of his digital devices uncovered communication with several Pakistani phone numbers.
Punjab Police have arrested at least seven individuals in the case so far, including Falaksher Masih and Suraj Masih from Amritsar, Guzala and Yameen Mohamad from Malerkotla, and Sukhpreet Singh and Karanbir Singh from Gurdaspur.
Espionage Network Busted In India
The development comes as a series of revelations regarding Pakistani spy networks in India. Several Indians were arrested for allegedly spying for Pakistan including a CRPF personnel Moti Ram Jat from Rajasthan, a contractual health worker Sahdevsinh Gohil posted in the border district of Kutch, a YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra from Haryana who has several lakhs of subscribers. She was arrested in Haryana this month. She had travelled to Pakistan a number of times.
Additionally, a Rajasthan government employee was detained in Jaisalmer on suspicion of espionage for Pakistan with sources saying he worked as an assistant to former Congress minister Shale Mohammad.
Prior to this month's conflict, Pakistanis and Indians were able to travel to each other's countries, but it has long been very difficult to obtain visas due to government bureaucracy and historical mistrust.
The relations between India and Pakistan hit rock bottom after the neighbouring country resorted to a terror attack in Kashmir's iconic Pahalgam, killing 26 innocent tourists on April 22.
In response, India, on the intervening night of May 7 and 8, launched 'Operation Sindoor' against Pakistan and destroyed multiple terror targets there.
(With inputs from agencies)
First Published:
June 07, 2025, 20:33 IST
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