New Delhi: Jyoti Malhotra, a well-known travel YouTuber from Hisar, has been apprehended on accusations of espionage for Pakistan. Renowned for her travel channel ‘Travel with Jo’, which has over 377,000 subscribers, Malhotra is now a key figure in an ongoing investigation into a suspected espionage network linked to Pakistan that is operating in northern India.
Arrested for spying
Jyoti Malhotra was apprehended by the Hisar police on charges of espionage, accused of transmitting sensitive information from India to Pakistani intelligence agents. She faces charges under Sections 3, 4, and 5 of the Official Secrets Act of 1923, as well as Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Following her confession, she was placed in police custody for five days, and her case has now been transferred to the Economic Offences Wing for further inquiry.
Connections to Pakistani operatives
As per the FIR filed by sub-inspector Sanjay at the Hisar Civil Lines Police Station, Malhotra established a relationship with Ehsan-ur-Rahim, also known as Danish, who is an employee at the Pakistan High Commission (PHC) in New Delhi during a visit in 2023. Danish is said to have served as her handler, facilitating her introduction to Pakistani Intelligence Operatives (PIOs) and maintaining consistent communication through encrypted channels.
Trips to Pakistan and Bali
Malhotra is reported to have traveled to Pakistan on two occasions in 2023, where she interacted with operatives such as Ali Ehwan, Shakir, and Rana Shahbaz. To evade detection, she stored their contact information under pseudonyms like “Jatt Randhawa.”
Additionally, she is alleged to have journeyed to Bali, Indonesia, with one of the intelligence operatives, indicating a level of involvement that extends beyond simple communication.
Espionage network across Haryana and Punjab
Authorities have uncovered a widespread espionage network operating in Haryana and Punjab, with Malhotra identified as a key member. So far, six individuals, including her, have been apprehended for their suspected involvement in espionage activities, transmitting sensitive information, and providing financial and logistical assistance to handlers in Pakistan.
Social media used to influence public perception
Additionally, while masquerading as a benign travel blogger on her YouTube channel ‘Travel with Jo’, Malhotra is alleged to have promoted a favorable portrayal of Pakistan on social media, purportedly as part of a strategic influence campaign. Her substantial following of 377,000 subscribers afforded her considerable reach and credibility, which investigators believe was manipulated by her Pakistani associates. The backdrop of this situation is the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, particularly following the April attack that resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals in Pahalgam, J&K.
Survivors reported that the attackers specifically targeted Hindu men, executing them at close range. India has attributed the attack to Pakistan, which was claimed by a terrorist organization known as Kashmir Resistance, linked to the disbanded group Lashkar-e-Taiba, long accused by New Delhi of receiving support from Pakistan. In response to the attack, India initiated ‘Operation Sindoor’, targeting nine terrorist infrastructure sites within Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
