Travel Vlogger Arrested for Sharing Sensitive Information With Pakistan High Commission
Travel Vlogger Arrested for Spying Allegations
Jyoti Rani Malhotra, a 33-year-old travel vlogger from Haryana with a substantial online following, has been arrested for allegedly sharing sensitive information with an official of the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi. This comes as a shock to her fans, who know her primarily for her popular YouTube channel, Travel with Jo, which boasts over 3,77,000 subscribers, and her Instagram account with over 1,32,000 followers.
Under the Radar
According to Hisar Superintendent of Police Shashank Kumar Sawan, Malhotra had been under the radar of Indian intelligence agencies for some time. Her travels, particularly to Pakistan on multiple occasions and once to China, were being monitored. The arrest followed substantial inputs from central agencies. Malhotra is currently in police custody for five days.
The Allegations
The police allege that Malhotra shared “sensitive information” with Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, an official of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. Danish was declared persona non grata by the Indian government on May 13 and asked to leave India immediately after being accused of spying. Malhotra reportedly met with Danish at the Pakistan High Commission in 2023 while seeking a visitor visa.
Financial Irregularities and Potential Exploitation
The police suspect Malhotra may have been exploited for views and likes. Her travel expenses seem to exceed her known sources of income, prompting questions about her financial dealings. The SP stated, “In the greed of followers and likes, they (influencers) fall into such traps. They don’t know the national and international ramifications.”
Investigation and Forensic Analysis
The police are currently working to seize Malhotra’s laptop and mobile phone for forensic analysis. This is expected to shed light on the nature and extent of the information she shared. They are also investigating who helped her come into contact with Danish and the Pakistan Embassy.
Modern Warfare and Influencer Recruitment
SP Sawan highlighted the evolving nature of warfare, stating, “Modern warfare is not fought only on the borders. This is also a warfare when they recruit influencers and try to push their narrative.”
Punjab Crackdown Continues
This arrest comes amidst a crackdown in Punjab on individuals suspected of leaking sensitive military information to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Two more men were arrested on Monday, bringing the total number of arrests in the state to six.
The arrests are linked to Operation Sindoor, a recent military exercise involving troop movements and strategic locations in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir. The accused, Sukhpreet Singh and Karanbir Singh, allegedly shared classified details with ISI handlers through their mobile phones. Forensic analysis of their phones confirmed the intelligence inputs.
This case, like Malhotra’s, highlights the ongoing intelligence concerns regarding the potential exploitation of individuals for espionage purposes.
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