YouTuber Arrested for Allegedly Spying on India and Passing Tips to ISIS

Amid increasing tension between Pakistan and India, Agencies have arrested around 6 individuals for allegedly spying on India and passing sensitive information to ISIS. All the arrested individuals are spread over Punjab and Haryana. Among the 6 arrested, Jyoti Malhotra, a YouTuber from Haryana, was apprehended for the same reason.

Jyoti travelled to Pakistan in 2023 after securing a visa from the agents, and during her visit, she made connections with people belonging to the Pakistan High Commission. After meeting a person named Danish from the Pakistan High Commission, she met some more agents who worked for Pakistani Intelligence Operatives. Jyoti remained in constant touch with the operatives by frequently tipping them off with different information about India.

Jyoti used different channels, such as WhatsApp and Telegram, to communicate with the operatives. According to the reports, Jyoti shared details about different locations and was also seen uplifting Pakistan’s Image on social media. In even more detail, the investigators have claimed that she was also in a secret relationship with one of the PIOs with whom she had travelled to Bali.

Jyoti has been arrested under the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita Act and with Official Secrets Act. After obtaining a written confession, the matter has been handed over to the Economic Offence Wing. After Jyoti, another woman named Guzala has approached the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi to seek a Visa. She met Danish, who eventually gained her trust by promising marriage and initiating a romantic relationship. Soon after, Guzala was working for Danish.

Danish often transferred money to Guzala through different payment applications and then would ask her to redistribute it. In Guzala’s account, numerous transactions of 3000, 699, 799 and 1000 were found, which raises further suspicion. Other arrestees include Md Yameen, who took care of the financial dealings and also issued the visas. Devendar Singh from Haraya was also arrested under the same context and was recruited when he had gone to Pakistan during a religious Pilgrimage.

The agencies have claimed that the operations are a part of a larger network and that there are many people associated. The arrested people are being questioned to obtain more information about the other allies. The people arrested in connection with the heinous crime were often lured with materialistic gifts and emotional connections. Each of the arrested individuals has shared their written statement, and a further probe is underway to assess the other angles of the case and to find more potential spies.