Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested a man from the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh for allegedly spying for Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
The accused person was identified as Shehzad.
Shehzad was taken into custody from Moradabad on Saturday.
According to the Special Task Force, he was also passing sensitive information related to national security to his handlers, reported News 18.
ATF alleged that he had travelled to Pakistan several times over the years and even smuggled cosmetics, clothes, spices, and other items across the border.
Shehzad’s wife, Raziya, told News 18 that he had travelled to Pakistan on multiple occasions.
However, Raziya said he visited Pakistan to bring fabrics for his business.
She said her husband visited Lahore several times.
The UP Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) said that Shahzad has close contacts with ISI agents and remains in constant communication with them, reported News 18.
According to ATS, the arrested man shared sensitive and confidential information related to India’s security with ISI agents.
Case registered
Meanwhile, a case has been registered against him under Sections 148 and 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita at the ATS police station in Uttar Pradesh’s capital Lucknow.
Travel vlogger Jyoti Malhotra arrested
Shahzad’s arrest follows the arrest of popular YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, who runs a channel “Travel with Jo”, which boasts nearly 4 lakh (400,000) subscribers.
Malhotra has now emerged as a key figure in an ongoing investigation into a suspected Pakistani espionage network spanning across northern India.
A resident of Hisar, Haryana, Malhotra was arrested last week for allegedly passing sensitive information related to India’s military to Pakistan.
Her arrest follows closely on the heels of the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed over 25 civilian lives.
Malhotra had reportedly travelled to Pakistan twice in 2023.
Her online activity shows that her visits to Kashmir were followed by trips to Pakistan.
From Haryana travel influencer to alleged spying
Malhotra’s YouTube channel and Instagram profile have 3.77 lakh (377,000) subscribers and 1.33 lakh (133,000) followers, respectively.
She is accused of being in contact with a Pakistani official based at the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi. On May 13, India expelled that official for alleged involvement in espionage.
According to a report by news agency PTI, Malhotra met Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish at the High Commission in 2023 while applying for a visa to Pakistan, as mentioned in an FIR lodged at Civil Lines Police Station on May 16.
Following her interaction with Danish, she was introduced to his associate, Ali Ahwan, who facilitated her stay in Pakistan.
The FIR states that Ahwan also arranged her meetings with Pakistani security and intelligence operatives, including individuals identified as Shakir and Rana Shahbaz.
To avoid detection, Malhotra allegedly saved Shahbaz’s contact under the name ‘Jatt Randhawa’.
