In a dramatic turn of events, Jyoti Malhotra, a well-known travel vlogger behind the YouTube channel “Travel with Jo”, has been arrested by Hisar Police on serious charges of espionage for Pakistan. With over 377,000 subscribers, Malhotra’s arrest has shocked fans and stirred concerns about cross-border intelligence operations using social media as a cover.
The arrest stems from an investigation into an alleged Pakistan-linked spy network operating across Haryana and Punjab, exposing the covert use of influencers to gather and relay sensitive information to foreign handlers.
Arrest and Legal Action
Malhotra was arrested under Sections 3, 4, and 5 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923, and Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Following her arrest, she was remanded to police custody for five days, and her case has been transferred to the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) for deeper investigation. Officials confirmed that she confessed to communicating with Pakistani Intelligence Operatives (PIOs) and sharing confidential data.
Contact with Pakistani Officials
According to the FIR filed at Hisar Civil Lines Police Station, Malhotra came into contact with Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, a staffer at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, during a 2023 event. Danish allegedly became her main handler, introducing her to several PIOs and keeping in touch via encrypted messaging platforms.
Suspicious International Travel
Investigators revealed that Malhotra visited Pakistan twice in 2023, meeting individuals such as Ali Ehwan, Shakir, and Rana Shahbaz. Her phone records showed contacts saved under false names like “Jatt Randhawa,” presumably to evade detection. Malhotra also travelled to Bali, Indonesia, with one of the operatives — an indication of her deeper involvement beyond online communication.
A Wider Network in North India
Authorities have confirmed that Malhotra was not acting alone. Her arrest is part of a wider crackdown on a Pakistani espionage ring with operational links across Haryana and Punjab. Six individuals have been detained so far for allegedly aiding in intelligence collection, relaying defense-related information, and offering logistical and financial support to handlers based in Pakistan.
YouTube Channel Used for Influence Ops
Masquerading as a harmless content creator under her travel channel, Malhotra reportedly used her platform to promote pro-Pakistan narratives, which officials believe was part of a coordinated psychological and influence operation. With a large and engaged subscriber base, her content had the potential to shape public opinion — a tactic increasingly observed in modern hybrid warfare.
Escalating India-Pakistan Tensions
The arrest comes amid heightened Indo-Pak tensions following the April terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives. Eyewitness accounts suggested that Hindu men were targeted, sparking outrage across the country. India has blamed Pakistan-backed terror outfits for the attack, specifically a group called Kashmir Resistance, allegedly linked to the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba.
In retaliation, India launched Operation Sindoor, striking nine terror infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) — further escalating diplomatic and military hostilities in the region.
