At least 12 individuals, including a YouTuber, have been arrested from Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh over the past two weeks for their alleged involvement in an espionage network linked to Pakistan, police officials confirmed. The arrests were made following intelligence inputs and joint investigations by various state agencies.
Among those arrested, six are from Punjab, five from Haryana, and one from Uttar Pradesh. Two women — Guzala from Malerkotla and Jyoti Malhotra, a Hisar-based YouTuber — were reportedly in direct contact with Ehsan-ur-Rahim, alias Danish, a Pakistani official posted at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. The Government of India expelled the diplomat on May 13 after charges of espionage surfaced.
On May 4, Falaksher Masih and Suraj Masih of Ajnala in Amritsar were arrested for allegedly sending photographs of military cantonments and airbases to Pakistan’s ISI. On May 11, Guzala and Yameen Mohamad were held from Malerkotla for sharing information and receiving money via UPI from Danish. On May 15, Sukhpreet Singh and Karanbir Singh of Gurdaspur were arrested for leaking details about Operation Sindoor, including troop movements in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and J&K.
Nauman Ilahi of Panipat, originally from UP, worked as a security guard and allegedly shared sensitive data with Pakistani operatives. On May 16, Devender Singh of Kaithal was arrested after admitting to sharing photos of the Patiala cantonment following his visit to Pakistan last year. Armaan and Mohammad Tarif were nabbed from Nuh district for suspected espionage links. Jyoti Malhotra, who came in contact with Danish while applying for a visa to Pakistan in 2023, was reportedly being groomed as an intelligence asset and remained in touch during the four-day India-Pakistan military conflict after Operation Sindoor.
The Uttar Pradesh STF apprehended Shahzad from Rampur. A known smuggler with several trips to Pakistan, he allegedly carried out espionage activities under the cover of cross-border trade.
According to officials, the accused were passing sensitive military information, photographs, and troop data to Pakistani intelligence operatives. Authorities are analyzing digital devices and financial records of the suspects. Legal proceedings are underway, and further arrests are expected.
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