The brother of Jyoti Malhotra, the Delhi woman arrested on espionage charges, has stated that his sister visited Pakistan before the Pahalgam attack. Jyoti Malhotra, a YouTuber and travel vlogger from Haryana, was arrested on May 16, 2025, for allegedly spying for Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). She is accused of sharing sensitive information with Pakistani operatives through encrypted messaging platforms.
According to the First Information Report (FIR), Malhotra first came into contact with Ehsan-ur-Rahim, also known as Danish, at the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi in 2023, where she had gone to seek a visa to visit Pakistan. Despite an initial visa rejection, Malhotra eventually connected with Danish, who facilitated her travel to Pakistan. Police investigations reveal that Malhotra visited Pakistan multiple times and China once. Her financial transactions and travel details are currently under scrutiny.
Hisar Superintendent of Police Shashank Kumar Sawan confirmed that Malhotra visited Kashmir before the Pahalgam attack and had traveled to Pakistan prior to her Kashmir trip. Police are investigating the links between these visits and her alleged espionage activities. Sawan also noted that Malhotra was in contact with other YouTube influencers, who were also in touch with Pakistani Intelligence Operatives (PIOs). This has led to a broader investigation into other potential Indian contacts and who might have been receiving sensitive information.
Recent reports also indicate a connection between Malhotra and a man who was filmed delivering a cake to the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi shortly after the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22. An X user shared a side-by-side comparison of Malhotra with the man. This connection has further fueled the investigation into her activities and potential links to Pakistani intelligence.
The investigation has revealed that Malhotra was allegedly asked by Pakistani handlers to promote a positive image of Pakistan through her social media posts. During questioning, Malhotra admitted to being part of a group that visited Pakistan in 2023, where she met Ahsan-ur-Rahim (Danish). After returning to India, she maintained contact with him through WhatsApp and other messaging apps. Later, during another visit to Pakistan, reportedly on Ahsan's advice, she met Ali Ahsan, who introduced her to members of Pakistani intelligence.
Authorities are analyzing her financial transactions and have seized multiple cell phones, a laptop, and other electronic gadgets. They are also scrutinizing financial details and chats between Malhotra and Danish, who was expelled by the Indian government on May 13 for espionage.
The case has brought attention to the broader issue of espionage and foreign influence, raising questions about the need for social media platforms to regulate the content shared by influencers, especially concerning national security.
