Jyoti Malhotra, a Haryana-based travel blogger and YouTuber with over 3.7 lakh subscribers on YouTube and 1.3 lakh followers on Instagram, was arrested by Civil Lines police in Hisar on suspicion of spying for Pakistan. The owner of the channel “Travel with JO” was taken into custody from New Aggarsain Extension and booked under the Official Secrets Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Police allege that Malhotra maintained regular contact with Pakistani intelligence operatives, sharing sensitive information through WhatsApp, Telegram, and Snapchat.Malhotra’s YouTube channel features numerous videos from her visits to Pakistan, with titles such as ‘Indian Girl in Pakistan’, ‘Indian Girl Exploring Lahore’, and ‘Indian Girl at Katas Raj Temple’. Investigators say she was tasked by her Pakistani handlers to present a positive image of Pakistan on social media.
How the espionage unfolded
According to the First Information Report (FIR), Malhotra met a man named Ahsan-ur-Rahim, also known as Danish, during a 2023 trip to Pakistan. The two maintained contact after she returned to India. On a later trip, she met other Pakistani intelligence officials introduced by Danish. Police said, “She has confessed to her role. Her travel history includes four visits to Pakistan, and she maintained encrypted communication with handlers on WhatsApp, Telegram and Snapchat,” DSP Kamaljit Singh said.
Malhotra reportedly saved one operative’s contact as “Jatt Randhawa” to avoid suspicion. Police found that she had an intimate relationship with a Pakistani intelligence operative and even travelled with him to Bali, Indonesia.
Connections to the Pakistan High Commission
The investigation also revealed Malhotra’s links with the Pakistan High Commission in India. She attended an iftar party hosted by the commission last year after accepting what she called a “special invitation.” A video from the event shows Malhotra meeting Danish, who was later declared persona non grata and expelled by India on espionage charges.In the footage, Malhotra says, “I am feeling so happy to see him and the arrangements.” Danish introduces her to other guests, stating, “She is a YouTuber and a vlogger. Her name is Jyoti. Her channel is called Travel with Jo. She has over 100k subscribers.” Malhotra also comments on the embassy’s setup: “See the arrangement at the embassy this time. It mesmerises me. I’m excited, super duper excited!”
The video ends with Danish thanking Malhotra for participating. She is seen discussing Pakistan’s National Day with Danish and his wife and even asking Indian attendees about their experiences visiting Pakistan.
Malhotra, who describes herself as a “Nomadic Leo Girl” and “Wanderer Haryanvi + Punjabi” on her channel, has travelled widely but her repeated visits to Pakistan attracted suspicion. Police believe she used her social media presence to shape a favourable narrative of Pakistan. Despite being from Hisar, she largely operated out of Delhi, with Pakistani officials allegedly helping her with visa extensions and stays during her trips.
Her arrest comes shortly after Punjab Police detained two individuals from Malerkotla linked to a similar espionage case involving a staff member at the Pakistan High Commission. DSP Singh confirmed that Malhotra passed sensitive information and promoted positive views of Pakistan on Indian platforms. Investigators are now examining her devices and bank transactions to uncover the full extent of the espionage network.
Malhotra was presented before a court and remanded to five days’ police custody. The probe continues amid growing concern about cross-border intelligence activities disguised as cultural or travel exchanges.
