YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra arrested in Hisar for spying for Pakistan

CHANDIGARH: A travel blogger and YouTuber identified as Jyoti Malhotra was arrested on Saturday by the Civil Lines police in Hisar on charges of spying for Pakistan. She had maintained regular contact with Pakistani intelligence operatives and shared sensitive information with them using platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Snapchat. Jyoti, who runs a YouTube channel under the name Desi-Indo-Joe, had been frequently visiting several countries, including Pakistan.She had been tasked by her handlers with portraying a positive image of Pakistan through her social media content. During questioning, she claimed she was selected as part of a delegation to Pakistan in 2023. During this visit, she reportedly met a man named Ahsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, and continued to stay in touch with him even after returning to India through WhatsApp and other messaging apps. On a second visit to Pakistan, made on Ahsan’s suggestion, she came in contact with another individual, Ali Ahsan, who introduced her to members of Pakistan’s intelligence and security establishment. It is during this period, Jyoti began sharing information considered sensitive in nature, with her Pakistani contacts.She admitted to saving their contact numbers under misleading names to avoid raising suspicion, a move investigators believe was a deliberate attempt to conceal her interactions with Pakistani Intelligence Operatives (PIOs).

She admitted to sharing sensitive details with them and saving their contacts under misleading names to avoid detection. Officials said her continued engagement with Pakistani intelligence operatives amounts to a breach under the Official Secrets Act and poses a threat to national security.