YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra Admits to Espionage for Pakistan
Haryana-based YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra has confessed to being in contact with Pakistani intelligence operatives and sharing sensitive information through encrypted channels. During interrogation, she admitted to meeting Pakistani agents during multiple visits across the border, as well as maintaining regular communication with Danish, a Pakistani High Commission official based in New Delhi.
Malhotra’s arrest has sent shockwaves across the intelligence and digital media community, as she operated her channel “Travel with Jo” under the guise of tourism content while allegedly serving as an intelligence asset.
Encrypted Apps and Aliases Used to Evade Detection
Malhotra disclosed that she used encrypted platforms such as WhatsApp, Telegram, and Snapchat to communicate with her handlers. She saved their contact details under aliases to mask her activities, including one saved as “Jatt Radhawa.” Authorities believe this deliberate masking was part of a broader strategy to evade intelligence monitoring.
Investigations revealed that she was not just passing information but also shaping public opinion through pro-Pakistan content on YouTube and other social media. Her recent video trips included coverage of sensitive Indian regions such as Kashmir, Ladakh, and coastal areas—some of which were linked to reconnaissance activity.
Intelligence officials are now cross-referencing her travel logs with surveillance data, especially around Pahalgam and other strategic sites, to understand the extent of her collaboration with Pakistani agencies.
Arrest, Charges, and Forensic Examination
Jyoti Malhotra was arrested on May 17, 2025, under Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Sections 3, 4, and 5 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923. Authorities have seized her mobile phone, laptop, and storage devices, which are now undergoing forensic examination to trace data transmissions, image locations, and encrypted message history.
Investigators are also reviewing whether Malhotra received payments or incentives in exchange for her espionage. Her financial records and foreign exchange transactions are under scrutiny to identify potential foreign fund transfers or cryptocurrency trails.
The arrest has triggered calls for regulation of vloggers operating in sensitive areas, with security agencies urging for tighter oversight on digital influencers who may be exploited by foreign intelligence networks.
