Chandigarh (Punjab)— In a major intelligence operation, the State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) of Punjab Police in SAS Nagar has arrested YouTuber Jasbir Singh alias Jaan Mahal (41) on charges of espionage for Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), officials confirmed Wednesday.
🧑✈️ Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav said that Jasbir, a resident of Mahlan village in Rupnagar, was operating a YouTube channel named “JaanMahal Video”—with over 1.1 million subscribers—under the guise of posting travel and cooking vlogs, while covertly passing sensitive Indian military information to Pakistani handlers.
🔍 Espionage Network Details
Investigations revealed that:
- Jasbir was closely associated with Pakistan-based Intelligence Operative Shakir alias Jutt Randhawa.
- He was in contact with Haryana-based YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, previously arrested for spying.
- He maintained a link with Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, a Pakistani national and expelled Pak High Commission official.
📅 Jasbir visited Pakistan thrice — in 2020, 2021, and 2024 — during which he allegedly came into direct contact with ISI officers, who cultivated and recruited him for espionage.
📸 Notably, he also attended the Pakistan National Day event in Delhi on Danish’s invitation, meeting Pakistani Army officials and vloggers, the DGP added.
📱 Evidence & Forensic Findings
🕵️♀️ AIG Ravjot Grewal, SSOC SAS Nagar, said the arrest followed a credible intel tip-off. A forensic scan of Jasbir’s mobile phone retrieved over 150 Pakistani contacts, including:
- ISI agents
- Pakistani High Commission officials
- Other Pak-based individuals
Jasbir had deleted sensitive communications and digital records after Jyoti Malhotra’s arrest, but forensic teams are working to recover the erased data, the AIG said.
📽️ Vlog Channel Used as a Cover
Police said Jasbir used his popular YouTube platform to disguise his real activity, allegedly relaying information about Indian Army troop movements and other classified internal details to Pakistan.
The link between Jasbir and Jyoti Malhotra reportedly originated at an event organized by the Pakistan Embassy in 2024, where they were introduced by embassy officials.
⚖️ Legal Action
📝 A case (FIR No. 5/03.06.2025) has been registered under:
- Sections 152 and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)
- Sections 3, 4, and 5 of the Official Secrets Act
The case is being probed by SSOC Police Station, SAS Nagar.
🧩 Ongoing Investigation
Police are now working to:
- Identify more accomplices
- Trace digital communication trails
- Investigate foreign linkages in the broader espionage-terror network
DGP Yadav confirmed that this arrest is part of a larger crackdown on ISI-backed networks using social media influencers and cultural platforms as covert assets.