Haryana YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra Arrested for Alleged Espionage Ties with Pakistani Official
Jyoti Malhotra, a YouTuber from Haryana, has been arrested on charges of espionage after allegedly communicating with a Pakistani intelligence officer. She reportedly sought assistance in arranging her marriage while sharing sensitive information. Investigations revealed suspicious financial transactions linked to her accounts, raising concerns about her connections with Pakistani operatives. With over 100,000 Instagram followers, Malhotra's previous visits to Pakistan and interactions with officials are now under scrutiny by Indian authorities. Read on to learn more about this unfolding story.
May 21, 2025, 15:20 IST
Allegations Against Jyoti Malhotra
Jyoti Malhotra, a YouTuber from Haryana, has been accused of espionage for Pakistan. Reports indicate that she allegedly communicated with a Pakistani intelligence officer, requesting assistance in arranging her marriage. Malhotra, who operates the YouTube channel 'Travel with Jo', was apprehended last week after authorities discovered her connections with the officer and her purported sharing of sensitive information. She later admitted to being in contact with an officer known as Ehsan-ur-Rehman, also referred to as Danish. According to reports, she allegedly told the Pakistani officer via WhatsApp, 'Please arrange my marriage in Pakistan.'
Financial Investigations Unfold
During the investigation, police uncovered details about four bank accounts belonging to Malhotra, which were involved in transactions from Dubai. Authorities noted that the amounts exceeded her estimated income, prompting further analysis of the data. Danish had been declared an undesirable person by India. He introduced Malhotra to Ali Ahwan, who facilitated her accommodation and arranged further meetings with Pakistani security officials Shakir and Rana Shahbaz. Reports suggest that he was allegedly grooming her as an asset.
Previous Visits to Pakistan
Malhotra, who boasts over 100,000 followers on Instagram, has visited Pakistan twice, during which she reportedly interacted with an official from the Pakistani High Commission in Delhi. Officials from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Intelligence Bureau (IB) have questioned her regarding her suspected connections with Pakistani intelligence operatives.