SSOC SAS Nagar apprehends YouTube influencer Jasbir Singh alias Jaan Mahal for espionage, links found with ISI operatives, Pakistani officials, and terror networks.
Chandigarh, June 5:
In a significant breakthrough against cross-border espionage, the Punjab Police’s State Special Operation Cell (SSOC), SAS Nagar, has arrested a prominent YouTube influencer for allegedly spying for Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The accused, Jasbir Singh alias Jaan Mahal, a 41-year-old resident of Mahlan village in Rupnagar, was apprehended on Tuesday, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav in an official statement shared by the Department of Information and Public Relations, Punjab.
Jasbir Singh ran a popular YouTube channel titled “JaanMahal Video,” boasting over 11 lakh subscribers, where he appeared to post travel and cooking vlogs. However, investigations have revealed that this online identity served as a cover for espionage activities on behalf of ISI.
DGP Yadav confirmed that Jasbir had direct links with Pakistani Intelligence Operative (PIO) Shakir alias Jutt Randhawa, a key figure in a terror-backed spy network. He also maintained connections with Haryana-based YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, previously arrested by Haryana Police for similar charges, and with Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, a Pakistani national and former official at the Pakistan High Commission in India, who was expelled for subversive activities.
According to the DGP, Jasbir was invited by Danish to attend the Pakistan National Day event in Delhi, where he allegedly interacted with Pakistani Army officials and vloggers. He subsequently visited Pakistan thrice — in 2020, 2021, and 2024, during which he established direct contact with ISI officers who recruited him for spying on Indian Army movements and other sensitive national matters.
Following the arrest of Jyoti Malhotra earlier this year, Jasbir reportedly tried to wipe out all communication trails with Pakistani handlers to escape detection. However, the SSOC’s cyber intelligence teams managed to retrieve crucial evidence.
Providing further insight into the operation, Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Ravjot Grewal said the SSOC had actionable inputs about Jasbir’s involvement with multiple Pakistan-based contacts, including ISI agents, officials from the Pakistani High Commission, and others. Upon his arrest, police recovered his mobile phone, which forensic analysis revealed contained around 150 Pakistan-based contacts.
“Many of these contacts are believed to be part of Pakistan’s intelligence apparatus or affiliated with hostile foreign entities. The accused had deleted digital records including chats, documents, and call logs, but we are in the process of technically recovering the data,” the AIG said.
Jasbir allegedly used his YouTube channel to camouflage his espionage activities, passing on sensitive information to his ISI handlers under the pretext of media or travel content. Investigations also revealed that Jasbir and Jyoti Malhotra had jointly visited Pakistan after being introduced at an event hosted by the Pakistan embassy in 2024.
The investigation is ongoing to trace accomplices, digital communication trails, and foreign linkages, as law enforcement works to dismantle the larger espionage-terror network operating in India.
Meanwhile, an FIR (Case No. 5 dated 03/06/2025) has been filed under sections 152 and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 3, 4, and 5 of the Official Secrets Act at Police Station SSOC SAS Nagar. The case marks a critical alert for national intelligence agencies on the growing misuse of digital platforms for cross-border subversion.