Hisar, May 17, 2025 — In a startling development, Haryana-based YouTuber and travel vlogger Jyoti Malhotra, widely known as jyoti malhotra youtuber, has been arrested by Indian authorities on charges of espionage for Pakistan. The arrest took place in Hisar and is part of a broader investigation into a suspected spy network operating across northern India. Jyoti malhotra youtuber was one of six individuals apprehended from Haryana and Punjab for allegedly passing sensitive information to Pakistani intelligence operatives.
Jyoti malhotra youtuber, who ran the popular YouTube channel Travel with Jo, boasting over 377,000 subscribers, is accused of leveraging her public persona to gather and transmit classified information. According to officials, she used her online presence to create a favorable image of Pakistan while allegedly serving as a conduit for sensitive data.
Pakistani Links and Suspicious Travels
Investigators revealed that jyoti malhotra youtuber traveled to Pakistan twice in 2023 after obtaining a visa through commission agents. During these visits, she reportedly developed close ties with Ehsan-ur-Rahim, alias Danish, a staff member at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. Danish, who was recently declared persona non grata and expelled from India, is said to have introduced jyoti malhotra youtuber to several Pakistani intelligence agents.
One of these agents, identified as Shakir alias Rana Shahbaz, maintained frequent communication with jyoti malhotra youtuber, who had saved his number under the alias “Jatt Randhawa.” The two reportedly exchanged messages over encrypted platforms including WhatsApp, Telegram, and Snapchat. Authorities suspect that this network enabled the systematic transfer of sensitive Indian location data and other national security-related information to Pakistan.
Romantic Link and International Travel
Further raising suspicion, officials discovered that jyoti malhotra youtuber had developed a personal relationship with one of the Pakistani agents and had even traveled with him to Bali, Indonesia. This connection is now being scrutinized to determine the extent of her involvement in foreign intelligence operations and whether she acted alone or with accomplices.
Official Charges and Ongoing Investigation
Jyoti malhotra youtuber has been charged under multiple legal provisions, including Sections 3, 4, and 5 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923, which pertain to unauthorized possession and sharing of sensitive information. She has also been booked under Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, for acts endangering national security.
She has been remanded to five days of police custody as authorities continue their probe into her digital communications, financial transactions, and travel history. Officials are also investigating whether other social media influencers may have unknowingly or deliberately contributed to similar activities.
Growing Concerns Over Social Media Misuse
The case has sent shockwaves through the digital community and raised serious questions about the role of influencers and social media platforms in national security. Experts stress the need for more rigorous background checks and monitoring of public figures with access to sensitive areas or information.
As the investigation unfolds, law enforcement agencies are working to unravel the full extent of this alleged espionage network and ensure accountability for all individuals involved.
