In a shocking turn of events, travel blogger and YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra was arrested by the Civil Lines police in Hisar on 17 May 2025, facing accusations of espionage for Pakistan. She is alleged to have maintained regular communication with Pakistani intelligence agents, using platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Snapchat to share sensitive information.
Jyoti, who runs the YouTube channel Desi-Indo-Joe, had traveled to several countries, including Pakistan, as part of her activities. It is claimed that she was instructed by her handlers to present Pakistan in a positive light through her social media posts. During her questioning, Jyoti stated that she was chosen to join a delegation to Pakistan in 2023. According to the FIR, during her trip, she met a man named Ahsan-ur-Rahim, also known as Danish, and stayed in touch with him after returning to India through various messaging apps. On a subsequent visit to Pakistan, recommended by Ahsan, she met another individual, Ali Ahsan, who introduced her to members of Pakistan’s intelligence and security agencies.
It was during this time that Jyoti allegedly began passing along sensitive information to her Pakistani contacts. She confessed to saving their numbers under false names, a tactic investigators believe was designed to hide her connections with Pakistani Intelligence Operatives (PIOs). Officials have stated that her ongoing communication with these operatives is a violation of the Official Secrets Act, and poses a serious threat to national security.
(With Inputs From TOI)
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