In a sensational development that has stirred national security concerns, Haryana-based travel vlogger Jyoti Malhotra, widely known for her YouTube channel Travel With Jo, was arrested for allegedly leaking sensitive information to Pakistani intelligence operatives.
Booked under the Official Secrets Act and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Malhotra was taken into custody by Hisar police and has been remanded to five days of police custody following a confession during initial questioning.
According to an FIR filed at Civil Lines Police Station, Hisar, Malhotra’s alleged link to a Pakistani spy network surfaced following her interactions with Ehsan-ur-Rahim, alias Danish, an official with the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi who has now been declared persona non grata and expelled by India.
Malhotra reportedly met Rahim during a visit to the High Commission in 2023, where he allegedly began “grooming” her as an asset. During a subsequent trip to Pakistan, she came in contact with another handler, Ali Ehwan, who facilitated her local travel and accommodations. Through Ehwan, Malhotra was allegedly introduced to two Pakistani intelligence officers, Shakir and Rana Shahbaz, both believed to be involved in espionage activities targeting India.
A key piece of evidence includes a March 30, 2024 video posted by Malhotra on her YouTube channel, recorded during an Iftar gathering hosted at the Pakistan High Commission. In the video, Malhotra is seen warmly interacting with Rahim and his wife, praising the couple’s hospitality and inviting them to her native village in Hisar. “Come see the hospitality in our village. It’s very similar,” she can be heard saying, drawing parallels between Indian and Pakistani cultures.
Her eagerness to visit Pakistan and build cross-border relations was visible throughout the video. In a moment captured on camera, she is seen requesting foreign diplomats for travel access: “Give me visa!” she says light-heartedly, even turning to Chinese officials with the same appeal.
In light of the allegations, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a strongly worded statement:
“The activities of Ehsan-ur-Rahim were found to be incompatible with his diplomatic status. He was asked to leave India within 24 hours.”
