In a massive development, a Haryana-based YouTuber & Travel Blogger named Jyoti Malhotra has been arrested allegedly on espionage charges. YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra is among the 6 arrested Indian nationals who have been arrested in an espionage case. As per an India Today report, Travel blogger Jyoti Malhotra has been accused of allegedly passing sensitive information to Pakistani operatives. The network spanned across Haryana and Punjab, with key operatives acting as agents, financial conduits, and informants. Now, the question arises, who is Jyoti Malhotra, and how was she nabbed for spying for Pakistan? Below is all about YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra-
Who is Jyoti Malhotra?
Jyoti Malhotra is a Travel Blogger and YouTuber who is famous both on Instagram and YouTube. On YouTube, Jyoti Malhotra owns a page named Travel with JO. Travel with JO has a whopping 377K subscribers, and she also made a video on Pakistan when she visited there. Talking about Jyoti Malhotra's Instagram handle, she enjoys a whopping 131K followers. Her Instagram bio describes that she has roots in both Haryana and Punjab.
ANI reported, "Jyoti Rani, daughter of Haris Kumar, resident of Hisar, Haryana, was interrogated for allegedly passing information to the Pakistani side. She allegedly met a Pakistani officer, Ahsan-ur-Rahim, in Delhi, travelled to Pakistan twice, and shared sensitive info. A case was filed under the relevant sections."
Jyoti Malhotra Arrested
As per TOI, Jyoti Malhotra was arrested on Saturday by the Civil Lines Police in Hisar on charges of spying for Pakistan. Mr. Vikas, PRO, Hisar Police, confirmed to True Scoop the update about Jyoti Malhotra, YouTuber, getting arrested.
As per the report, authorities have revealed that Jyoti Malhotra visited Pakistan in 2023 after acquiring a visa through commission agents. During her trip to Pakistan, she developed close ties with Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, a staffer at the Pakistan High Commission (PHC) in New Delhi.
Notably, Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish was the one who was declared persona non grata by the Indian government and was expelled on May 13, 2025. It was Danish who allegedly introduced Jyoti to multiple Pakistani Intelligence Operatives (PIOs).
On encrypted platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Snapchat, Jyoti remained in touch with operatives, including Shakir alias Rana Shahbaz, whose number she saved as “Jatt Randhawa.”
Jyoti allegedly shared sensitive information concerning Indian locations and was actively used to project a positive image of Pakistan on social media.
Initial investigation has revealed that she also entered into an intimate (romantic) relationship with a PIO and even travelled to Bali, Indonesia with him. During Danish’s stay in Delhi, she continued coordinating with him.
Jyoti has been charged under Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 3, 4, and 5 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923. A written confession has been obtained, and the case has been handed over to the Economic Offences Wing, Hisar.
Who are the others who have been arrested apart from Jyoti Malhotra?
The other accused who has been arrested is Guzala, a 32-year-old widow from Malerkotla (Punjab), Yameen Mohd from Malerkotla, Devinder Singh Dhillon from Kaithal, Haryana, a student who was recruited during a pilgrimage to Pakistan and sent videos of Patiala cantonment and Arman from Nuh, Haryana, who supplied Indian SIM cards, transferred funds, and visited the Defence Expo 2025 on instructions from Pakistan Intelligence Operatives.