A popular Haryana-based YouTuber, Jyoti Malhotra, who runs the channel "Travel with Jo," has been apprehended on charges of espionage, sending shockwaves through the online community and raising serious concerns about national security. The 33-year-old blogger, boasting a substantial following of over 377,000 subscribers on YouTube and 132,000 on Instagram, stands accused of sharing sensitive information with Pakistani intelligence operatives.
Malhotra's alleged involvement with Pakistani agents reportedly began in 2023 during a visit to Pakistan, where she secured a visa through commission agents. During this trip, she came into contact with Ehsan-ur-Rahim, also known as Danish, an official at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. Their relationship allegedly deepened, leading to Danish introducing her to various Pakistani Intelligence Operatives (PIOs). Ehsan-ur-Rahim was declared persona non grata on May 13, 2025, and expelled from India.
Law enforcement officials claim that Malhotra maintained contact with these operatives after returning to India, utilizing encrypted platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Snapchat to exchange information. She is accused of saving contacts under disguised names, such as "Jatt Randhawa," to evade detection. The YouTuber is also accused of sharing sensitive details about Indian locations and actively participating in a coordinated effort to portray a positive image of Pakistan on social media. Investigators have further alleged that Malhotra developed an intimate relationship with one of the intelligence operatives, even traveling to Bali, Indonesia, with him.
Malhotra has been charged under Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 3, 4, and 5 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923. Following her arrest in Hisar, she was remanded to five days of police custody, and the case has been handed over to the Economic Offences Wing for further investigation.
The arrest has brought to light a broader espionage network operating across Haryana and Punjab. Authorities have arrested six individuals, including Malhotra, for their alleged roles in spying, relaying sensitive information, and providing financial and logistical support to Pakistani handlers. Among those arrested is Guzala, a 32-year-old widow from Malerkotla, Punjab, who also came into contact with Danish at the Pakistan High Commission.
The case highlights the concerning trend of social media platforms being potentially exploited for espionage activities. Malhotra's popular travel channel, "Travel with Jo," provided her with significant reach and credibility, which investigators believe was leveraged by her Pakistani contacts to influence public perception. Her videos from trips to Pakistan, posted earlier this year, are now under scrutiny.
