Punjab YouTuber Jasbir Singh Held for Spying; Alleged Pakistan Links Exposed

Rupnagar, Punjab, June 4: In a significant development, Punjab Police on Wednesday arrested YouTuber Jasbir Singh from Rupnagar district on charges of spying for Pakistan. Singh, who operates the popular YouTube channel Jaan Mahal with over 1.1 million subscribers, is accused of being part of a growing espionage network linked to Pakistan’s intelligence services.

The arrest was carried out by the State Special Operations Cell (SSOC), Mohali, following credible intelligence inputs. In a statement on social media, Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said, “Acting swiftly on actionable intelligence, SSOC Mohali has unearthed a critical espionage network linked to Jasbir Singh, a resident of Village Mahlan, Rupnagar.”

According to officials, Singh was allegedly in contact with a Pakistan Intelligence Officer (PIO) identified as Shakir, also known by the alias Jutt Randhawa. He is also reported to have maintained communication with Haryana-based YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra—who was arrested last month on similar charges—and Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, a Pakistani national and former official of the expelled Pakistan High Commission.

Investigators believe Singh played a role in passing sensitive information to Pakistan-based handlers under the guise of media activity. Authorities are currently probing the content of his communications and digital footprint to ascertain the full extent of his involvement.

The arrest has sparked concerns over the growing misuse of digital platforms for anti-national activities, especially by individuals exploiting their reach and influence in cyberspace. Sources say Singh was recruited and handled remotely via encrypted platforms and was possibly offered financial incentives in return for sensitive information.

This arrest comes close on the heels of Jyoti Malhotra’s detention last month under similar charges, highlighting a worrying trend of social media influencers being roped into espionage activities by foreign intelligence agencies.

Punjab Police, in collaboration with central agencies, is continuing its investigation into the network, and more arrests may follow in the coming days. The authorities have urged citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious online activities that may compromise national security.