YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra Arrested in Hisar for Espionage
In a shocking development raising concerns about the use of digital platforms for espionage, Haryana Police arrested travel vlogger Jyoti Malhotra, also known as Jyoti Rani, from her residence in Hisar’s New Aggarsain Extension. The arrest was made under the Official Secrets Act and Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita on charges of spying for Pakistan.
Alleged Espionage Network and Foreign Connections
According to officials, Malhotra came into contact with a Pakistani national, Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, an employee at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, during a visa process in 2023. She is alleged to have maintained regular contact with several Pakistani intelligence operatives, including individuals identified as Ali Ehwan, Shakir, and Rana Shahbaz.
She reportedly visited Pakistan twice and continued communication through encrypted platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Snapchat. Authorities claim she relayed sensitive information, including photographs, videos, and details potentially useful to foreign intelligence services.
Social Media Influence and Suspicious Activities
Jyoti Malhotra ran a YouTube channel named “Travel with Jo” with over 377,000 subscribers and an Instagram handle followed by more than 132,000 users. Her content primarily focused on cross-border tourism and cultural exploration, including multiple travel vlogs from within Pakistan.
However, officials suspect that her influence was used not just for content creation but to build narrative favourability for Pakistan and potentially conduct surveillance under the guise of travel vlogging. Her social media posts are currently under forensic review for any covert signals or communications.
Legal Action and Police Investigation
Post-arrest, Malhotra was produced before a local court in Hisar, which remanded her to five days in police custody. Investigators are probing the full extent of her contact with Pakistani handlers and whether she received payments or assistance in kind for her activities.
Police sources also confirmed that her communication devices, including mobile phones, laptops, and storage drives, have been seized and are being examined for further evidence.
Widening Probe Into Espionage Operations
Malhotra’s arrest is not an isolated incident. In recent weeks, nine individuals have been arrested in espionage-related cases across Punjab and Haryana. Earlier cases from Panipat and Kaithal suggest a possible wider ISI-linked espionage ring exploiting civilians, influencers, and defense-related personnel.
The Ministry of Home Affairs is reportedly monitoring developments closely, and intelligence agencies have flagged the misuse of soft influence tools like YouTube and Instagram for anti-India propaganda and covert information gathering.
