In a significant counterintelligence operation, security agencies have apprehended YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra and three others on charges of espionage for Pakistan, allegedly maintaining contact with their handlers even during the recent blackouts in northern India. Officials report that the suspects were sharing sensitive information regarding crucial Indian infrastructure with Pakistan’s intelligence operatives.
The detainees include Nauman Elahi, a security guard from Panipat, Uttar Pradesh; Devender Singh Dhillon from Kaithal; Jyoti Malhotra from Hisar; and Arman, a Class XII dropout hailing from Rajaka village in Nuh. All four are currently undergoing interrogation by various central and state security agencies.
An official source revealed that on May 6, a day prior to the covert Operation Sindoor, Malhotra was in New Delhi and stayed in contact with her handler, Danish, an employee at the Pakistan High Commission, along with others. Similar suspicious activities from the other accused were noted, particularly during key national security events and periods of increased alertness.
Hisar’s Superintendent of Police, Shashank Sawan, indicated that Malhotra’s involvement may extend beyond mere intelligence gathering. He stated, “In modern warfare, the enemy attempts to establish a favorable narrative. Malhotra’s involvement suggests she assisted in crafting those narratives. This is how influencers and YouTubers are being recruited.”
Further information indicated that Malhotra had been monitored by central agencies for an extended period. Her lifestyle and frequent travels, which included trips abroad, raised concerns about possible foreign sponsorships. Another YouTuber from Odisha is reportedly also under scrutiny.
In a crucial tie to organized spying, investigators uncovered that Arman had been communicating with Pakistani handlers through a known terrorist network. He allegedly supplied Indian SIM cards, obtained using his identification, to Pakistani agents. He is also implicated in attending a defense expo and relaying vital information to foreign intelligence agencies. Arman, who posed as a job seeker in New Delhi, was detained in Firozpur Jhirka on the night of May 15.
The arrests have heightened scrutiny over digital influencers and their potential manipulation by hostile foreign entities in the arena of information warfare. Ongoing investigations are expected to shed more light on this matter.
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/entertainment/story/youtuber-jyoti-malhotra-three-others-arrested-for-spying-for-pakistan-handlers-contacted-during-blackouts-1215620-2025-05-19?utm_source=rssfeed
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Publish Date: 2025-05-19 10:05:00
