Jyoti Malhotra : Who is she?
Jyoti Malhotra, a travel YouTuber from Hisar, was arrested on charges of spying for Pakistan. Known online for her travel channel “Travel with Jo”, which has over 377,000 subscribers, Malhotra has now become a central figure in an ongoing investigation into an alleged Pakistan-linked espionage network operating across northern India.
Jyoti Malhotra, the Haryana-based travel vlogger was arrested for allegedly spying for Pakistan, enjoys wide popularity on YouTube and Instagram and posted several videos of her visits to the neighboring country earlier this year. She was arrested along with six others for sharing sensitive information with Pakistani agents, operates the YouTube channel ‘Travel with Jo’.
Her Instagram account, ‘travelwithjo1’, also has 1,32,000 followers. “Nomadic Leo Girl. Wanderer Haryanvi + Punjabi modern girl with old ideas,” says the description on both her YouTube and Instagram accounts.
Her accounts reveal that she travelled widely across India as well as to foreign destinations like Indonesia and China. However, of particular interest is her numerous videos and reels on her trip to Pakistan.
Here are 5 facts that sheds light on this case:
Arrest for spying
Jyoti Malhotra was arrested by Hisar police for allegedly spying and passing sensitive Indian information to Pakistani intelligence operatives. She was booked under Sections 3, 4, and 5 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923, and Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Her confessions and arrest led to a 5-day police remand, and her case is now with the Economic Offences Wing for further investigations.
Link to Pak operatives
According to FIR registered by sub-inspector Sanjay at Hisar Civil Lines Police Station, Malhotra came into contact with Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, a staffer at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi during a 2023 visit. Danish allegedly acted as her handler, introducing her to Pakistani Intelligence Operatives, and maintained regular communication with her via encrypted platforms.
She attended an Iftar dinner at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi last year and posted a video in which she is seen gushing about the arrangements, repeatedly expressing an interest in visiting the country and asking almost everyone she meets to help her get a visa.
Her video can be seen at this link
In the video, she is also seen meeting a Pakistan High Commission official, Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, who had reportedly been declared and asked to leave India within 24 hours for committing espionage and leaking sensitive information regarding the movements of the Indian Army. Malhotra also meets Rahim’s wife and it is clear from her interactions with him that they have met several times before and know each other well.
She greets Rahim warmly, asks him how he is doing, and tells him how happy she is to see him. A man, whose face is not seen but appears to be Rahim, introduces her to officials and tells them she runs the ‘Travel With Jo’ YouTube channel.
Jyoti Malhotra has met Pakistan High Commission Officer Ehsan
Describing the atmosphere at the high commission, Malhotra tells her viewers in a mix of Hindi and English, “I am mesmerized. I have no words. I am excited, super duper excited. Bhaisahab, main to hil gayi .”
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House Invite
Rahim introduces Malhotra to his wife and they exchange pleasantries, after which he tells the YouTuber about Pakistan Day, which is celebrated on March 23. “I am very happy after getting such a grand welcome and these arrangements,” Malhotra says, to which Rahim responds, “This is how Pakistanis are.”
Malhotra also extends an invitation to Rahim and his wife to visit her house in Haryana’s Hisar. “Come see the hospitality in our village. It’s very similar.”
The YouTuber then goes around asking several attendees whether they have visited Pakistan, saying “I want to go, too” when they answer in the affirmative. “Hopefully I will get a visa, we’ll go together,” she tells a fellow YouTuber.
Malhotra also meets some officials from China and asks them for a visa for the country as well. “Give me visa!” she says.
She runs into Rahim again and remarks that he appears very busy taking care of all the people attending the dinner.
Earlier Visits
Meeting another Pakistani official, Malhotra says he handles everything at the embassy. “The three or four times I have come, he has recorded the entry and asked for my phone and other belongings to be kept aside. He is a very nice man,” she says.
“Give me a visa this time,” she tells another Pakistani official who has joined the high commission in February.
She goes on to praise the spread, appreciating the food that has been served, before speaking to Rahim again before leaving and telling him how happy she was to have been invited.
Visit to Pakistan and Bali
Malhotra visited Pakistan twice in 2023, where she met operatives including Ali Ehwan, Shakir, and Rana Shahbaz. She had saved contacts under disguised names like “Jatt Randhawa” to avoid suspicion.
She also traveled to Bali, Indonesia, with one of the intelligence operatives, suggesting deep involvement beyond mere communication.
The videos were posted two months ago. Through her travelogs, Malhotra has attempted to portray several positive aspects of Pakistan. Investigators said Malhotra was used by foreign agents to record such videos for propaganda purposes due to her influence as a social media personality.
The videos show her crossing the Attari-Wagah border, exploring Lahore’s Anarkali Bazaar, undertaking a bus journey, and her visit to the biggest Hindu temple, Katas Raj Temple, in Pakistan.
One of the photos on her Instagram handle features a caption in Urdu, “Ishq Lahore”. She also shared content about Pakistani food, and made comparisons about the culture between the two countries.
Malhotra also visited Kashmir last year, with videos showing her enjoying a shikara ride in Dal Lake. She also posted a video of taking a train ride from Srinagar to Banihal.
One of her latest videos was her take on the Pahalgam terror attack, which left 26 people dead, and led India to launch Operation Sindoor. “My views on Pahalgam Kashmir: Shall we visit Kashmir again?” the caption of her video read.
Links to Pakistan
Investigators said Malhotra first visited Pakistan in 2023 after acquiring a visa through commission agents. During her visit, she came in contact with one Ehsan-ur-Rahim, alias Danish, an official who was posted at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.
Soon, they developed close relations and Ehsan introduced her to intelligence operatives in Pakistan. Earlier this month, Ehsan was declared persona non grata and expelled on May 13, 2025, as India downgraded diplomatic ties with Pakistan.
After returning to India, Malhotra maintained contact with Pakistani operatives through encrypted platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Snapchat.
She saved the contacts under disguised names like ‘Jatt Randhawa’ to avoid suspicion. Investigators alleged that she shared sensitive information on Indian locations. Police said she visited Pakistan thrice.
She also developed an intimate relationship with one of the intelligence operatives and also allegedly travelled to Bali, Indonesia, with him.
Investigators said Malhotra was a part of a larger espionage network, with such operatives spread across Haryana and Punjab.
Espionage network across Haryana and Punjab
Authorities revealed that Malhotra was part of a larger espionage network with operatives across Haryana and Punjab. Six individuals, including her, have been arrested so far for their alleged roles in spying, relaying sensitive information, and facilitating financial and logistical support to Pakistani handlers.
Social media used to influence public perception
While presenting herself as a harmless travel blogger under the YouTube channel “Travel with Jo”, Malhotra is accused of projecting a positive image of Pakistan on social media, allegedly as part of a coordinated influence operation.
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