YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra Was Being Groomed by Pakistani Operatives, Reveals Hisar Police

Hisar: Two days after the arrest of Hisar-based YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra on charges of espionage, Hisar Superintendent of Police Shashank Kumar Sawan on Sunday confirmed that Pakistani intelligence operatives (PIOs) were grooming her as an asset.

Addressing a press conference, SP Sawan disclosed that Malhotra had made multiple visits to Pakistan — including a trip shortly before the Pahalgam terror attack — and had also travelled to China. He said that intelligence agencies had alerted the Haryana Police about PIOs actively attempting to recruit Indian social media influencers to push soft propaganda narratives.

Malhotra, arrested on May 16, has been remanded to five days’ police custody.

Travel Blogger Facade, Foreign Links Under Scrutiny

“She is being interrogated by Haryana Police in coordination with central agencies. We are thoroughly analysing her financial transactions and travel records. Her declared income does not justify the extent of her foreign travel, raising suspicion of external funding,” SP Sawan said. “On the surface, she posed as a travel blogger, but evidence indicates deeper links.”

Malhotra was reportedly in direct contact with PIOs, including individuals already declared persona non grata by India. Though she did not have direct access to sensitive military information, her sustained communication with Pakistani handlers during critical security periods was termed “highly alarming.”

High-Profile Contacts, Espionage Network Under Probe

Investigations revealed that Malhotra met several high-profile individuals in Pakistan. Intelligence agencies had reportedly been monitoring her movements for months. Authorities are now tracing her Indian associates who may have facilitated her foreign trips and contacts with Pakistani intelligence.

Her YouTube channel ‘Travel with JO’, with over 3.77 lakh subscribers, is also being scrutinised for potential coded communication and suspicious content.

Meanwhile, Odisha Police have joined the investigation after it emerged that Malhotra visited Puri in September 2024 and met a local YouTuber recently returned from Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan.

Encrypted Apps, Covert Meetings, and a Wider Network

According to the FIR filed at Hisar Civil Lines Police Station, Malhotra met a Pakistani operative, Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, at the Pakistan High Commission in 2023, while seeking a visa. Danish allegedly introduced her to other Pakistani officials, including Ali Ahwan, Shakir, and Rana Shahbaz, arranging her stay and meetings in Pakistan.

Malhotra saved one operative’s contact as ‘Jatt Randhawa’ to avoid suspicion and reportedly stayed in touch through encrypted messaging apps such as WhatsApp, Telegram, and Snapchat.

She was allegedly part of a broader espionage network operating across Haryana and Punjab, involving local agents, financial handlers, and informants.

Danish Expelled, Other Arrests Linked

On May 13, the Indian government declared Danish a persona non grata, accusing him of engaging in espionage activities under diplomatic cover, and ordered him to leave the country within 24 hours. A couple of days earlier, Punjab Police arrested two individuals from Malerkotla linked to the same espionage ring.

Her arrest followed closely on the heels of other detentions, including Devender Singh, a postgraduate student from Kaithal, and Nauman Ilahi from Shamli, both held for alleged links with PIOs.

Family Denies Allegations

Malhotra’s father has dismissed the allegations as a conspiracy to tarnish the family’s reputation.

Statewide Crackdown on Anti-National Networks

Speaking from Sirsa, Haryana DGP Shatrujeet Kapur said that following Operation Sindoor, several anti-national elements had been identified across multiple districts. “We are committed to building a water-tight case backed by solid evidence to ensure the severest punishment,” Kapur stated, confirming that central intelligence agencies and district police units remain on high alert and in close coordination.