Haryana YouTuber Arrested on Allegations of Spying for Pakistan's ISI
Police in Palwal, Haryana, have arrested YouTuber Wasim Akram on charges of spying for Pakistan's intelligence agency, the ISI. Akram, who creates videos on the history of Mewat, allegedly provided SIM cards to Pakistani agents and had been in contact with them for three years. His arrest follows that of another alleged spy, Taufiq, last week. Police are investigating incriminating WhatsApp chats and cross-border links, with the Intelligence Bureau also involved in the national security probe.
Unpacked:
Akram reportedly first contacted a Pakistani agent named Danish in 2021 while applying for a visa to Pakistan, and this initial connection allegedly led to ongoing communication with ISI operatives over the following years.
While specific details remain undisclosed, police allege Akram provided SIM cards and shared sensitive information—possibly related to local security or infrastructure—via WhatsApp and internet calls, with cyber forensics recovering incriminating chats from his phone.
Authorities are intensifying digital surveillance and cyber forensics to recover deleted messages and track cross-border communications, with the Intelligence Bureau coordinating investigations, reflecting broader concerns about social media’s role in espionage and national security.
Akram’s family has denied any wrongdoing, stating he never traveled to Pakistan and that his YouTube activities were purely educational, while police maintain that interrogation and digital evidence suggest otherwise.