YouTuber, student, security guard: The 11 'Pakistani spies' arrested amid India's espionage crackdown

Many of the suspects were reportedly lured into the spy network via social media, messaging apps, and in some cases, personal visits to Pakistan. (L-R: Jyoti Malhotra, Davender Singh, Shahzad)

In a sweeping crackdown on an alleged espionage network linked to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Indian authorities have arrested at least 11 individuals from four states over the past 11 days.

According to officials, the individuals were recruited through a mix of honeytraps, monetary incentives, and false promises.

Many of the suspects were reportedly lured into the spy network via social media, messaging apps, and in some cases, personal visits to Pakistan. The use of encrypted apps such as WhatsApp, Telegram, and Snapchat was a common method of communication with Pakistani handlers.

The suspects come from Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Odisha, and include influencers, students, labourers, and even a factory security guard, revealing a wide and alarming penetration of Pakistan’s covert recruitment strategy.

How's India tightening its espionage crackdown? Catch live updates here.

Jyoti Malhotra – YouTuber turned alleged spy

One of the most high-profile arrests is that of Jyoti Malhotra, a travel vlogger from Hisar, Haryana, who runs the YouTube channel Travel with Jo. Malhotra was arrested last week for allegedly leaking classified military information to Pakistani agencies.

Investigators were alerted after she attended an Iftar at the Pakistan High Commission, where she was seen interacting with Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, a Pakistani diplomat previously expelled on espionage charges.

Malhotra is accused of having made multiple trips to Pakistan over the past two years, during which she reportedly met with ISI-linked individuals and shared sensitive content. According to the police, she allegedly remained in touch with handlers via encrypted platforms and is currently in custody under interrogation by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW).

Devendra Singh Dhillon – Political science student in Punjab

A 25-year-old student at Khalsa College, Patiala, Dhillon was arrested in Haryana’s Kaithal on May 12. Initial scrutiny began when he posted photos of weapons on Facebook.

During interrogation, he admitted to having travelled to Pakistan via the Kartarpur Corridor in November 2023, and to having shared photos and details about the Patiala military cantonment with ISI officers.

Nauman Ilahi – Factory security guard from Uttar Pradesh

Ilahi, 24, worked as a security guard in Panipat, Haryana, and was arrested on suspicion of supplying sensitive information to Pakistani individuals. Police say Ilahi, a native of Kairana in UP, was actively in contact with an ISI handler, as per an NDTV report. His arrest followed a tip-off and is being investigated further.

Shahzad - Uttar Pradesh resident with smuggling links

In a related arrest, the Special Task Force (STF) of Uttar Pradesh arrested Shahzad, a resident of Tanda, on charges of spying and cross-border smuggling. According to the STF, Shahzad made several trips to Pakistan under the guise of transporting cosmetics, clothes, and spices, while allegedly gathering intelligence for ISI. He is also accused of recruiting others into espionage activities.

Mohammad Murtaza Ali – App developer from Punjab

Gujarat Police, acting on intelligence inputs, arrested Mohammad Murtaza Ali from Jalandhar, Punjab, for allegedly spying for ISI using a mobile application he had developed, states the NDTV report. Police recovered four phones and three SIM cards from him during the raid. Authorities say he shared military data through the app.

Sukhpreet Singh and Karanbir Singh - Gurdaspur youth

The Gurdaspur Police in Punjab have apprehended two individuals - Sukhpreet Singh and Karanbir Singh - for allegedly leaking classified military information to Pakistan's ISI. The arrests were made on May 15 following actionable intelligence inputs indicating that the duo was passing on sensitive details related to Operation Sindoor, including troop deployments and strategic locations across Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir. Police recovered three mobile phones and eight live cartridges from the accused.

A forensic analysis of their devices confirmed their direct links with ISI handlers and their role in transmitting critical data concerning the Indian Armed Forces. An FIR has been lodged under the Official Secrets Act at the Dorangala police station.

Armaan and Hanif – Nuh youth 

A 26-year-old man named Armaan, from Rajaka village in Nuh district, was arrested on May 16. As per authorities, he was in touch with a Pakistani employee at their High Commission in New Delhi, passing on details about Indian Army activities.

His mobile phone reportedly contained videos, photos, and messages shared with Pakistani contacts. Armaan has been booked under Section 152 of BNS and multiple sections of the Official Secrets Act, 1923.

Another youth, Hanif, has also been arrested on spying charges, becoming the second person from Nuh to be detained in two days, as per a News18 report.

Gazala and Yamin Mohammad – Arrested in Punjab

Gazala and Yamin Mohammad have also been arrested in Punjab on similar charges of working for Pakistani intelligence.

These arrests come just days after what could be termed as one of the most intense episodes of cross-border hostilities between India and Pakistan in recent years, lasting nearly 100 hours. The escalation was triggered by the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which India attributed to a Pakistan-backed terror group.

A fortnight after the deadly terrorist attack, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians, the Indian armed forces launched a major counteroffensive, Operation Sindoor, targeting terror infrastructure across the border in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.

Pakistan, in retaliation, carried out a large-scale missile and drone assault, which was effectively neutralised by Indian defence systems. Indian forces struck back by targeting key Pakistani airbases.

The intense military exchange continued for four days before both sides agreed to a ceasefire on May 10, bringing a temporary halt to hostilities.