Travel Vlogger Jyoti Malhotra Allegedly Shared Secrets With Pakistani Intelligence
Travel Vlogger Arrested for Espionage
Popular travel vlogger Jyoti Malhotra, known for her YouTube channel “Travel with Joe”, has been arrested by Haryana Police for allegedly sharing sensitive information with Pakistani intelligence operatives. The 34-year-old, who boasted a significant following on various social media platforms, was taken into custody on Saturday and remanded in five-day police custody. This arrest marks the third in an espionage-related case in Haryana this week.
From Travel Content to Pro-Pakistan Narratives
Police allege that Malhotra used her social media platforms to promote pro-Pakistan narratives at the behest of her handlers. Her arrest follows an investigation into her contact with Pakistani intelligence operatives through encrypted messaging apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Snapchat. Investigators claim she used false identities for her contacts, referring to one handler as “Jatt Randhawa.”
A Connection to Pakistani Officials
According to the police, Malhotra first met a Pakistani official identified as Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish during a visit to the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi in 2023. Danish allegedly helped her extend her Pakistani visa, arranged a homestay, and introduced her to other intelligence operatives, including Shakir and Rana Shahbaz.
DSP Kamaljit Singh, who is leading the investigation, stated that Malhotra confessed to sharing sensitive information related to Indian locations and visiting Pakistan more than four times, including twice in 2023. She reportedly traveled to Bali with one of the operatives and had an intimate relationship with him.
Digital Devices and Financial Transactions Under Scrutiny
Malhotra’s digital devices, including her mobile phone and laptop, have been sent for forensic examination. Her financial transactions are also under investigation to uncover any potential money trail. While her family resides in Hisar, Haryana, police say Malhotra primarily lived in New Delhi.
This arrest comes after Punjab Police apprehended two individuals, including a woman, from Malerkotla for alleged spying activities linked to the same Pakistani network. One key figure in this network, Danish, was expelled from India by the Ministry of External Affairs on May 13 for espionage.
