Chandigarh: A Haryana-based travel vlogger, Jyoti Malhotra, known for her YouTube channel “Travel with Jo,” is among six Indian nationals apprehended for their alleged involvement in an espionage network sharing sensitive information with Pakistani intelligence operatives. The arrests, spanning across Haryana and Punjab, expose a sophisticated operation involving agents, financial facilitators, and informants.
Investigations revealed that Jyoti Malhotra’s connection to the Pakistani intelligence apparatus solidified during a visit to Pakistan in 2023. She reportedly secured her visa through commission agents and, while there, established close ties with Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, who was then a staff member at the Pakistan High Commission (PHC) in New Delhi. Danish has since been declared persona non grata by the Indian government and expelled on May 13, 2025, due to his suspected involvement in espionage activities.
Meanwhile, Jyoti was produced in the court and she has been sent to five days of police remand
Hisar, Haryana: YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra was produced before the court by the police. The court has sent her to five-day police remand pic.twitter.com/PfRKO69cpb
— IANS (@ians_india) May 17, 2025
Danish allegedly played a pivotal role in introducing Jyoti to multiple Pakistani Intelligence Operatives (PIOs). Maintaining contact through encrypted platforms such as WhatsApp, Telegram, and Snapchat, Jyoti reportedly exchanged sensitive details concerning strategic Indian locations. She was also allegedly utilized to disseminate a positive portrayal of Pakistan on various social media platforms. Further investigation uncovered an intimate relationship between Jyoti and a PIO, including a trip they took together to Bali, Indonesia. Even after Danish’s return to Delhi, their coordination persisted, raising further suspicion among Indian authorities.
Jyoti Malhotra now faces serious charges under Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 3, 4, and 5 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923. Authorities have obtained a written confession from her, and the case has been transferred to the Economic Offences Wing in Hisar for further investigation.
In addition to Jyoti, another key individual arrested in connection with this espionage ring is Guzala, a 32-year-old widow residing in Malerkotla, Punjab. Guzala’s involvement reportedly began on February 27, 2025, when she visited the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi to apply for a visa. During this visit, she encountered Danish, and their communication commenced shortly thereafter. Danish allegedly persuaded Guzala to switch from WhatsApp to the more encrypted platform Telegram, assuring her of its security. He purportedly gained her trust by promising marriage and initiating a romantic relationship through online chats and video calls.
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