Mohali, June 9: A Mohali court on Monday sent Punjab-based YouTuber Jasbir Singh, alias Jaan Mahal, to judicial custody in a high-profile espionage case, after the completion of his extended police remand. The 41-year-old, who hails from Mahlan village in Rupnagar district, will now be produced in court again on June 23, his counsel Mohit Dhupar confirmed.
Jasbir, known for running the popular YouTube channel “JaanMahal Video” with over 1.1 million subscribers, was arrested on June 4 for allegedly spying for Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Though his channel featured travel and cooking vlogs, investigators say it masked a darker role in a “terror-backed espionage network.”
Alleged Links to Pakistani Intelligence
Police sources claim that Singh was in direct contact with Pakistani intelligence operatives, including Shakir alias Jutt Randhawa, and had communicated with a Pakistan High Commission official, who was recently expelled from New Delhi over spying allegations.
During the course of investigations, it came to light that Singh had visited Pakistan three times — in 2020, 2021, and 2024 — where he allegedly met ISI officers and Pakistan Army personnel. Police claim Singh was cultivated and recruited by the ISI during these visits to gather sensitive information on Indian military movements and internal operations.
Connection to Another Accused Influencer
Singh’s name cropped up during the probe into Haryana-based influencer Jyoti Malhotra, who is already in judicial custody for espionage on behalf of Pakistan. According to the police, Singh was in regular touch with Malhotra and allegedly attempted to erase communication history with key Pakistani handlers once Malhotra was arrested — a move seen as an attempt to destroy evidence.
It was also revealed that Singh had attended the Pakistan National Day event in New Delhi, allegedly at the invitation of a Pakistani national named Danish, during which he interacted with Pakistani vloggers and military officials.
A Bigger Network?
The Punjab Police has labelled the arrests as part of a larger espionage operation, with officials suggesting more arrests may follow. “We have uncovered links that point to a structured espionage network operating through social media influencers, who are being cultivated by enemy intelligence agencies under the guise of content creation,” said a senior police official involved in the probe.
The charges against Singh are serious and include passing classified information to a foreign adversary, compromising national security, and being part of a terror-supported intelligence operation.
While police continue to probe the extent of damage caused by the leaked information, Singh’s online presence and connections to Pakistan are under thorough digital forensic examination.
As of now, no formal charges have been filed in court, but legal experts suggest the case may soon be brought under provisions of the Official Secrets Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
The case continues to draw public attention due to the accused’s massive social media following, and authorities are also reportedly monitoring other content creators with international affiliations.
