Authorities allege ‘Travel with JO’ vlogger was being groomed by Pakistani operatives; encrypted chats, unexplained foreign trips raise red flags post-Pahalgam attack
May 19, 2025: Two days after her arrest on espionage charges, Hisar-based YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra has come under intense scrutiny from state and central agencies for alleged links with Pakistani intelligence operatives (PIOs). According to Hisar SP Shashank Kumar Sawan, Malhotra—who runs the channel Travel with JO with over 3.7 lakh subscribers—was being groomed as a strategic asset and had visited Pakistan multiple times, including shortly before the Pahalgam terror attack. She had also reportedly travelled to China.
Also Read: Hisar Travel Blogger Arrested for Spying, Linked to Pakistani Spy Ring
Espionage Allegations and Financial Scrutiny
SP Sawan revealed that Malhotra was arrested on May 16 following intelligence inputs indicating that PIOs were actively targeting Indian social media influencers to subtly promote narratives favourable to Pakistan. Her foreign travel and lifestyle appeared disproportionate to her declared income, prompting suspicions of external funding.
Also Read: What Did Arrested Ashoka University Professor Say About Operation Sindoor
“She portrayed herself as a travel blogger, but her communication with PIOs during heightened cross-border tensions is alarming,” Sawan said. Investigators are now reviewing her financial transactions, encrypted chats, and social media content for further leads.
Ties to High-Ranking Officials and Encrypted Networks
The FIR filed under the Official Secrets Act, 1923 and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita reveals Malhotra’s alleged links to Pakistan High Commission officials, including Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, and her introduction to senior Pakistani intelligence agents Shakir and Rana Shahbaz. She reportedly stored contacts under aliases like Jatt Randhawa and used apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Snapchat to maintain contact.
Danish, declared persona non grata by the Indian government, was expelled on May 13. Two days earlier, Punjab Police arrested two persons allegedly linked to the same network.
Expanding Investigation Across States
Authorities in Odisha have also joined the investigation after it was revealed Malhotra visited Puri in 2024, meeting another YouTuber who had travelled to Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan. Meanwhile, Haryana Police is coordinating with central intelligence to build a watertight chargesheet, aiming for the maximum legal penalty.
Malhotra’s Network Under the Scanner
Officials are now investigating Indian contacts who may have facilitated her connections with PIOs. Malhotra is suspected of being part of a larger espionage ring operating across Haryana and Punjab, involving local agents and financial handlers.
Despite the grave allegations, Malhotra’s family has denied all charges, claiming it is a conspiracy to defame them. Her arrest follows a string of detentions, including Devender Singh from Kaithal and Nauman Ilahi from Shamli, both charged with links to hostile foreign operatives.
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Jyoti Malhotra, YouTuber espionage case, Travel with JO, Pakistan High Commission, Pahalgam attack, Indian YouTuber arrested, Official Secrets Act, Pakistani spies in India, Operation Sindoor, Haryana Police, India-Pakistan tensions, terrorism funding, espionage network, PIO recruitment, India-China relations, OperationSindoor,