Travel YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra Arrested for Spying for Pakistan

HISAR, India – Jyoti Malhotra, a 33-year-old travel vlogger from Hisar, Haryana, was arrested on Saturday for allegedly sharing sensitive military information with Pakistani intelligence officials. Known online as ‘Travel with Jo,’ Malhotra had been reportedly in contact with these officials through various messaging platforms.

Local police confirmed her arrest as part of a broader investigation involving six individuals accused of espionage. According to authorities, Malhotra had visited Pakistan multiple times and interacted with Ehsan-ur-Rahim, a staff member of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, who is now declared persona non grata in India.

The allegations state that Malhotra took part in suspicious activities that threatened India’s sovereignty. In a recorded confession, she admitted to meeting with Pakistani operatives and sharing classified information over apps like WhatsApp and Telegram. Her interactions reportedly began after she sought a visa at the Pakistan High Commission in 2023.

“In Pakistan, I met several people and stayed in contact with them,” Malhotra stated during her police interrogation. She described exchanges of information with individuals disguised under fictitious names to avoid detection.

The case escalated following increased tensions between India and Pakistan after a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which left multiple civilians dead. Investigators highlighted that Malhotra was part of a larger espionage network and was actively trying to project a positive image of Pakistan through her social media presence, which boasts more than 377,000 subscribers.

Her arrest comes amid a crackdown on individuals attempting to leak sensitive information. The police revealed that Malhotra has been charged under the Official Secrets Act and additional sections of national security laws. She has been remanded to police custody for five days as investigations continue.

Additional arrests linked to this case include a security guard and a student who also faced similar charges of espionage. Further inquiries into the motives and connections of these individuals are ongoing.