In a shocking development, popular YouTuber and travel vlogger Jyoti Malhotra, known for her channel Travel with Jo, has been arrested on charges of espionage for Pakistan. The 33-year-old from Hisar, Haryana, is now in the custody of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Intelligence Bureau (IB).
Authorities seized her personal diary during the investigation, which contained glowing descriptions of Pakistan, calling it “colourful,” “crazy,” and an experience that was “beyond words.” Malhotra had visited Pakistan on a 10-day trip in 2023 and wrote about the warm welcome she received there.
Further probes revealed she was in contact with multiple Pakistani nationals, including Ehsan-ur-Rahim (alias Danish), a staff member at the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi. Investigators suspect she was being groomed as an intelligence asset, with regular communication between November 2023 and March 2025.
Her mobile phones, laptop, and other devices have been seized for forensic analysis. Financial transactions from multiple bank accounts are also under scrutiny to uncover possible links to foreign agencies.
She has been booked under Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Sections 3 & 5 of the Official Secrets Act. Her next court appearance is on May 22, 2025.
