Youtuber Jyoti Malhotra, Armaan, Shahzad: Know about ‘Pakistani spies’ arrested amid India-Pakistan tensions

At least eight  people have been arrested — three in Haryana, four in Punjab and one in Uttar Pradesh — on suspicion of espionage. They were accused of “spying” for Pakistan as tensions escalated between India and Pakistan over the last month. Here’s all you need to know about the eight people arrested for allegedly spying for Pakistan:

1. Jyoti Malhotra

Jyoti Malhotra, a YouTuber with millions of followers, was arrested by the Haryana Police from Hisar for allegedly spying for Pakistani agencies. Her YouTube channel and Instagram account have 3.77 lakh subscribers and 1.33 lakh followers respectively

Jyoti Malhotra was interrogated for allegedly passing information to the Pakistani side. She allegedly met a Pakistani officer, Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, in Delhi, travelled to Pakistan twice, and shared sensitive information.

According to reports, her social media shows she has a keen interest in bike riding and solo travel. Malhotra has travelled extensively across India and foreign countries, including Pakistan, Bhutan, Indonesia, and China, NDTV reported.

She was allegedly in touch with a Pakistani officer posted at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi during the four-day military conflict between India and Pakistan that followed the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, an officer was quoted by news agency PTI as saying.

Police said that Pakistani intelligence operatives were allegedly developing Jyoti Malhotra as an “asset”.

2. Devendra

Devendra, a resident of Mastgarh Cheeka village in Kaithal, Haryana, was also arrested for allegedly passing information to the Pakistan army and ISI during the recent India-Pakistan conflict.

As per the Police, Devendra, during his interrogation, told police that he was in contact with the Pakistan intelligence agency, ISI.

3. Armaan

Twenty six-year-old Armaan was arrested in Haryana’s Nuh on Saturday (May 17). Police accused him of sharing information related to the Indian Army and other military activities with Pakistan through an employee posted at the High Commission of Pakistan in Delhi.

4. Shahzad

The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested a suspected Pakistani spy in Tanda town of UP’s Rampur on Sunday. He was accused of working for the Pakistani intelligence agency ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence).

Shahzad is from Moradabad, the ATS was quoted by news agency ANI as saying. He allegedly smuggled cosmetics, clothes, spices and other goods illegally across the India-Pakistan border.

“Under the guise of smuggling, he worked for the Pakistani intelligence agency ISI,” the Uttar Pradesh ATS said on Sunday. “Shahzad has shared confidential information related to India’s security with the agents of ISI,” the ATS said in a statement.

5. Guzala and Yameen Mohamad

The Punjab Police arrested two persons, including a woman, from Malerkotla district in Punjab for their alleged involvement in espionage activities linked to a Pakistani official posted at the High Commission.

Those arrested were identified as Guzala and Yameen Mohamad, both residents of Malerkotla, the Hindustan Times reported.

Senior superintendent of police (SSP), Malerkotla, Gagan Ajit Singh was quoted as saying that acting on credible intelligence, accused Guzala was arrested for leaking sensitive information regarding the Indian Army movements to a Pakistan-based handler. 

Based on disclosures made by her during interrogation, a second conduit identified as Yameen Mohamad was also identified and taken into custody, he added.

“Guzala revealed that she was doing it in lieu of money and the accused official has sent her ₹30,000 in two transactions via UPI [unified payment interface],” police said.

6. Palak Sher Masih and Suraj Masih

On May 4, the Punjab Police arrested two individuals for their alleged involvement in leaking sensitive information and photographs of Army Cantonment areas and Air Bases in Amritsar to Pakistan intelligence operatives.

The accused were identified as Palak Sher Masih and Suraj Masih. Rural Amritsar Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Maninder Singh told news agency ANI.

Singh said information was received about Palak Sher Masih and Suraj Masih being in touch with Pakistan Intelligence Operatives. They allegedly leaked information about sensitive installations. “We have arrested them both and recovered a lot of data from them,” Singh said.

SSP Singh added, “They had one more partner, Harpreet, who brought them in touch with the ISI, and we will bring him from Amritsar Jail on a production warrant. One NDPS case was already registered against him.”

At least eight  people have been arrested — three in Haryana, four in Punjab and one in Uttar Pradesh — on suspicion of espionage. They were accused of “spying” for Pakistan as tensions escalated between India and Pakistan over the last month. Here’s all you need to know about the eight people arrested for allegedly spying for Pakistan:

1. Jyoti Malhotra

Jyoti Malhotra, a YouTuber with millions of followers, was arrested by the Haryana Police from Hisar for allegedly spying for Pakistani agencies. Her YouTube channel and Instagram account have 3.77 lakh subscribers and 1.33 lakh followers respectively

Jyoti Malhotra was interrogated for allegedly passing information to the Pakistani side. She allegedly met a Pakistani officer, Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, in Delhi, travelled to Pakistan twice, and shared sensitive information.

According to reports, her social media shows she has a keen interest in bike riding and solo travel. Malhotra has travelled extensively across India and foreign countries, including Pakistan, Bhutan, Indonesia, and China, NDTV reported.

She was allegedly in touch with a Pakistani officer posted at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi during the four-day military conflict between India and Pakistan that followed the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, an officer was quoted by news agency PTI as saying.

Police said that Pakistani intelligence operatives were allegedly developing Jyoti Malhotra as an “asset”.

2. Devendra

Devendra, a resident of Mastgarh Cheeka village in Kaithal, Haryana, was also arrested for allegedly passing information to the Pakistan army and ISI during the recent India-Pakistan conflict.

As per the Police, Devendra, during his interrogation, told police that he was in contact with the Pakistan intelligence agency, ISI.

3. Armaan

Twenty six-year-old Armaan was arrested in Haryana’s Nuh on Saturday (May 17). Police accused him of sharing information related to the Indian Army and other military activities with Pakistan through an employee posted at the High Commission of Pakistan in Delhi.

4. Shahzad

The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested a suspected Pakistani spy in Tanda town of UP’s Rampur on Sunday. He was accused of working for the Pakistani intelligence agency ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence).

Shahzad is from Moradabad, the ATS was quoted by news agency ANI as saying. He allegedly smuggled cosmetics, clothes, spices and other goods illegally across the India-Pakistan border.

“Under the guise of smuggling, he worked for the Pakistani intelligence agency ISI,” the Uttar Pradesh ATS said on Sunday. “Shahzad has shared confidential information related to India’s security with the agents of ISI,” the ATS said in a statement.

5. Guzala and Yameen Mohamad

The Punjab Police arrested two persons, including a woman, from Malerkotla district in Punjab for their alleged involvement in espionage activities linked to a Pakistani official posted at the High Commission.

Those arrested were identified as Guzala and Yameen Mohamad, both residents of Malerkotla, the Hindustan Times reported.

Senior superintendent of police (SSP), Malerkotla, Gagan Ajit Singh was quoted as saying that acting on credible intelligence, accused Guzala was arrested for leaking sensitive information regarding the Indian Army movements to a Pakistan-based handler. 

Based on disclosures made by her during interrogation, a second conduit identified as Yameen Mohamad was also identified and taken into custody, he added.

“Guzala revealed that she was doing it in lieu of money and the accused official has sent her ₹30,000 in two transactions via UPI [unified payment interface],” police said.

6. Palak Sher Masih and Suraj Masih

On May 4, the Punjab Police arrested two individuals for their alleged involvement in leaking sensitive information and photographs of Army Cantonment areas and Air Bases in Amritsar to Pakistan intelligence operatives.

The accused were identified as Palak Sher Masih and Suraj Masih. Rural Amritsar Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Maninder Singh told news agency ANI.

Singh said information was received about Palak Sher Masih and Suraj Masih being in touch with Pakistan Intelligence Operatives. They allegedly leaked information about sensitive installations. “We have arrested them both and recovered a lot of data from them,” Singh said.

SSP Singh added, “They had one more partner, Harpreet, who brought them in touch with the ISI, and we will bring him from Amritsar Jail on a production warrant. One NDPS case was already registered against him.”