Haryana YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra arrested over allegations of spying for Pakistan

May 18, 2025 by News Desk

Jyoti Malhotra, a popular travel vlogger from Hisar, Haryana, has been arrested on charges of espionage for allegedly passing sensitive information to Pakistani intelligence officials.

Authorities claim her actions constitute a serious breach of national security and fall under the violations of the Official Secrets Act.

Known by her YouTube handle Travel with Jo, Malhotra has over 377,000 subscribers and is known for her international travel content, including multiple vlogs from Pakistan.

Her most recent videos from Pakistan were uploaded just last month. She portrayed herself as a cultural ambassador, often presenting her travels as efforts to promote mutual understanding between nations.

According to the First Information Report (FIR), Malhotra’s alleged espionage activities involved sustained communication with Pakistani intelligence operatives via encrypted messaging apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Snapchat. Investigators say she disguised these contacts under false names in her phone.

Her first visit to Pakistan was in 2023 as part of a delegation, during which she reportedly met a man identified as Ahsan-ur-Rahim, also known as Danish. This contact allegedly led to further introductions, including one with a man named Ali Ahsan, who connected her with Pakistan’s intelligence network.

During subsequent visits, authorities allege that Malhotra shared sensitive data with these operatives. One of her photos from March 22, 2025, shows her alongside two other Indian YouTubers at the Pakistan High Commission, adding to suspicions.

She remains in police custody as investigations continue.

Malhotra’s arrest follows a similar case involving Devinder Singh Dhillon, a political science student from Patiala, who was also arrested for allegedly passing classified information to handlers in Pakistan.

The cases have raised alarm over growing concerns of cross-border espionage via social media influencers and digital platforms.