A concerning trend of espionage has recently come to light, with 11 individuals arrested across three states of India in just three days for Pakistan Spying. These arrests, spanning Haryana, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh, follow the April 22nd Pahalgam terror attack and reveal a nationwide crackdown. Among those detained is Haryana-based travel vlogger Jyoti Malhotra, accused of leaking sensitive data. The network also includes students, a security guard, and an app developer. Agents used social media, money, and false promises to recruit, often targeting young people in their 20s and 30s. This highlights a shift in espionage tactics, where everyday platforms are now exploited for intelligence gathering.
Jyoti Malhotra
Jyoti Malhotra, a YouTuber and travel blogger from Hisar, was apparently being “groomed as an informer,” according to police statements made on Sunday. She manages a YouTube channel named ‘Travel with JO’ and is believed to have connected with Pakistani intelligence during the recent tensions between India and Pakistan. However, they clarified that she didn’t have any direct access to sensitive defense-related details.
This influencer, with 3.85 lakh subscribers on YouTube, had visited Pakistan on three separate occasions—once in 2023, another in 2024, and then again in March 2025—just before the Pahalgam terrorist attack. She linked up with Ehsan-ur-Rahim, also known as Danish, an employee of the Pakistani High Commission who was recently relieved of his duties by India.
Her recent trips to both Pakistan and Kashmir are now being examined closely, especially to figure out if she was instructed to upload travel videos focusing on particular spots or narratives.
Devendra Singh
A 25-year-old student studying political science at Khalsa College in Patiala, Punjab, named Devender Singh, was taken into custody in Kaithal, Haryana. He’s accused of spying for India Pakistan. The police claim he was caught passing along confidential details to ISI agents, such as photos of the military cantonment in Patiala.
Apparently, at the time of his arrest, Devender Singh had posted pictures of handguns and rifles on Facebook. When questioned, it came out that he had traveled to Pakistan back in November of last year.
Arman
A 26-year-old guy named Arman, who’s from Nuh, was also arrested on suspicion of being a India Pakistan Spying. He was picked up along with Jyoti Malhotra because they thought he was passing along confidential info about the Indian Army and other military stuff to Pakistan. The police found chats, pictures, and videos on his phone that he’d sent to Pakistani numbers.
The police say Arman was using WhatsApp to send Pakistan information about what India’s military was up to.
Tareef
Tarif, the second individual from Nuh to face arrest over accusations of espionage, has been speaking to authorities. During these conversations, he explained that he had been communicating with two people connected to the Pakistani Embassy. These individuals had given him SIM cards and he had made numerous trips to Pakistan.
Later, officials at the embassy reportedly told him to travel to Sirsa and take pictures of the airport there. The investigation into his activities is still in progress.
Naumaan Ilahi
On May 15th, a 24-year-old man, suspected of espionage, was arrested in Panipat, Haryana. He’s accused of communicating with a Pakistani agent connected to the ISI. This suspect, named Nauman Ilahi and hailing from Uttar Pradesh, worked as a security guard at a factory. He’s alleged to have passed along sensitive information to Pakistan.
Ilahi, originally from Kairana in Uttar Pradesh, had apparently traveled to Pakistan on several occasions. His electronic devices have all been confiscated.
Mohammad Murtaza Ali
Mohammad Murtaza Ali was arrested in Jalandhar, Punjab, India on suspicion of spying for the Pakistan ISI. Apparently, he used a mobile app he created to conduct espionage. Authorities recovered four mobile phones and three SIM cards from him, according to the police.
Shahzad
The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) in Uttar Pradesh, India apprehended a man named Shehzad, who they suspect was spying for Pakistan ISI. Shehzad, a native of Rampur district, was arrested in Moradabad on Saturday.
Shehzad had made numerous trips to Pakistan and was apparently involved in cross-border trade of items like cosmetics, clothing, spices, and more. According to the police, this smuggling operation was just a cover for his actual espionage work.
He’s accused of connecting with several ISI agents and giving them sensitive information about India’s security. The officials believe that Shehzad wasn’t just sharing secrets but was also helping the ISI carry out operations inside India.
Shehzad was placed under judicial custody for two weeks and moved from Moradabad to Lucknow.
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Sukhpreet Singh
The Punjab Police recently detained two individuals in Gurdaspur, one of them being Sukhpreet Singh, on charges of leaking sensitive information to Pakistan during Operation Sindoor.
According to Gaurav Yadav, the Director General of Punjab Police, the accused were “passing on confidential information about Operation Sindoor, such as the movement of troops and crucial strategic points in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir, to the ISI.”
Satinder Singh, DIG Border Range, stated that the ISI activated the accused following the Pahalgam terror attack and that Rs 1 lakh was deposited into their accounts. Reportedly, the accused is either 19 or 20 years old.
Karanbir Singh
Karanbir Singh, one of the two individuals apprehended in Gurdaspur, was reportedly in direct communication with ISI handlers during the operation. He is accused of passing along sensitive information related to the Indian military, according to Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Border Range, Satinder Singh, stated that the accused had been supplying information. Approximately 15 to 20 days prior to their arrest, and were also allegedly engaged in drug trafficking. An FIR has been filed against Sukhpreet and Karanbir under the strict Official Secrets Act.
Ghazala and Yameen Mohammed
Beyond Jyoti Malhotra, police also arrested Gazala, a 32-year-old widow, and Yameen Mohammad from Malerkotla, Punjab. Both allegedly shared information with Pakistani agents for money. They reportedly worked with Danish, a former Pakistani High Commission staffer.
After their arrests, investigators found Danish met them often. Gazala and Yameen contacted him for Pakistani visas. Danish also transferred money to their mobile phones online. Their primary task involved funneling funds to their espionage network.
