Punjab Police arrests YouTuber Jasbir Singh for alleged espionage for Pakistan. He operated the 'Jan Mahal' channel and had visited Pakistan three times.
Punjab: Punjab Police recently made a startling revelation, arresting YouTuber Jasbir Singh from Rupnagar district on charges of espionage for Pakistan. Jasbir's YouTube channel, 'Jan Mahal,' known for travel videos, boasts over 1.1 million followers. However, the channel is now implicated in a serious national security threat.
Suspicion falls on Jasbir Singh following Jyoti Malhotra's arrest
The case took a graver turn with the emergence of Jasbir Singh's name during the investigation of Jyoti Malhotra, a YouTuber already arrested from Hisar, Haryana. Police reports indicate consistent communication between the two. It also emerged that Jasbir had links with a Pakistani intelligence operative (PIO) named Shakir, alias Jatt Randhawa.
Jasbir's three visits to Pakistan
Investigations revealed that Jasbir Singh visited Pakistan in 2020, 2021, and 2024. Notably, he was invited to a National Day event by a Pakistani High Commission official, Ehsan-ur-Rehim, alias Danish. There, he met several senior officials from Pakistan's intelligence agency.
Pakistani numbers found on his phone
Examination of Jasbir's phone uncovered numerous Pakistani numbers with which he was regularly in contact. Following Jyoti Malhotra's arrest, Jasbir attempted to delete these numbers, further fueling police suspicion.
SSOC investigation uncovers secrets
DSP Pawan Sharma of the Punjab Police's State Special Operations Cell (SSOC) stated that Jasbir has been remanded in police custody for three days. Interrogation will focus on determining what information about India he shared with Pakistan, and identifying any anti-national elements he was in contact with.
Strong ties with PIO
Jasbir Singh's name surfaced in a network linked to PIO Shakir, alias Jatt Randhawa. Randhawa has been previously implicated in espionage activities within India. Police are investigating the nature of Randhawa's instructions to Jasbir and the purpose of his visits to Pakistan.
Arrest raises concerns
Jasbir's arrest has not only raised questions about the credibility of social media but also demonstrated that digital platforms are no longer solely mediums of entertainment or information; they can be exploited for anti-national activities.
Gagandeep Singh's arrest from Tarn Taran
In a related development, Punjab Police arrested Gagandeep Singh, alias Gagan, from Tarn Taran. He is accused of links with the ISI and Pakistan-based Khalistani supporter Gopal Singh Chawla. Gagan is alleged to have transmitted sensitive information to Pakistan.
