In a shocking turn of events, Jasbir Singh, a well-known Indian YouTuber with more than 1.1 million subscribers on his channel “Jaan Mahal,” has been arrested by Punjab Police on serious espionage charges. Authorities allege that Singh was part of a Pakistan-backed spy network with ties to intelligence operatives across the border.
Singh, a resident of Mahlan village in Punjab’s Rupnagar district, was detained by the State Special Operations Cell (SSOC) in Mohali following a detailed intelligence probe. The arrest comes shortly after the high-profile detention of fellow YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra on similar espionage allegations.
According to police sources, Singh had established connections with several suspected ISI agents, including Shakir alias Jutt Randhawa and Ehsan-ur-Rahim, a former official at the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi who had previously been expelled from India for espionage-related activities.
Investigators also revealed that Singh visited Pakistan three times—in 2020, 2021, and 2024. During these visits, he reportedly interacted with Pakistani vloggers, army personnel, and intelligence-linked individuals. He had also attended the Pakistan National Day event at the embassy in Delhi, where he made contact with several Pakistani operatives.
Alarmingly, after the arrest of Jyoti Malhotra, Singh allegedly began deleting digital communications in a bid to cover up his links with the spy network. His digital footprint, however, provided investigators with enough evidence to implicate him in the case.
This arrest marks a growing concern among intelligence agencies about the use of social media platforms and influencer networks for espionage. Authorities are continuing to investigate how deep this network runs and whether more digital creators are involved.
The case has sent ripples across the Indian digital creator community, raising serious questions about national security and the responsibilities that come with influence.
