YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra arrested for alleged espionage activities

She has over 377,000 subscribers on YouTube and 130,000 followers on Instagram

by e4m Staff
Published: May 18, 2025 1:16 PM | 1 min read

Jyoti Malhotra, a popular travel vlogger known for her YouTube channel "Travel with JO," has been arrested by Haryana police on charges of espionage for allegedly sharing sensitive information with Pakistani intelligence operatives.

The 33-year-old content creator has over 377,000 subscribers on YouTube and 130,000 followers on Instagram, was taken into custody from her residence in Hisar's New Aggarsain Extension. She has been booked under the Official Secrets Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Investigations reveal that Malhotra had established connections with Pakistani intelligence through Ehsan-ur-Rahim, also known as Danish, a Pakistani High Commission official in India who was expelled on May 13 for espionage activities. Malhotra reportedly met Danish during a 2023 trip to Pakistan and maintained contact upon her return.

Authorities allege that Malhotra used encrypted messaging platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram and Snapchat to transmit classified information. Her social media content, which often portrayed Pakistan in a positive light, is also under scrutiny.

The arrest has raised concerns about national security, especially given Hisar's strategic significance as a military hub. Further investigations are ongoing to determine the extent of the breach and any additional individuals involved.