Key Points:
- Hisar Police arrest YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra for alleged links with Pakistani intelligence operatives.
- Malhotra admits she was lured by promises of likes, subscribers, and easy money through sponsored trips to Pakistan.
- She confessed to meeting several Pakistani officials, including a Pakistan High Commission officer in Delhi.
- Police are investigating her financial transactions and social media communications.
- Malhotra traveled to Kashmir and Pakistan before a recent attack in Pahalgam, raising further suspicions.
Hisar, Haryana: Popular YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, known for her travel channel “Travel with-Jo,” has confessed to Hisar Police that she was enticed into a web of espionage by Pakistani intelligence operatives. Her pursuit of YouTube popularity and financial gain led her to accept sponsored trips and maintain contact with officials linked to Pakistan’s spy agencies.
From Filmy Tales to Real-Life Espionage
When first taken into custody, Jyoti reportedly treated her police interrogation like a movie scene, spinning dramatic stories about her travels in Pakistan. However, as questioning intensified and evidence mounted, she broke down and admitted the truth: her seemingly harmless travel vlogs were part of a larger, more dangerous game.
How the Trap Was Set
According to investigators, Jyoti revealed that her desire for more likes and subscribers made her vulnerable to the overtures of undercover agents from the Pakistan Embassy. In 2023, she visited the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi to secure a travel visa, where she met Ahsan-ur-Rahim, also known as Danish. She exchanged contact details with Danish and soon began communicating regularly.
Sponsored Trips and Secret Meetings
Malhotra confessed to making two trips to Pakistan at Danish’s behest. During these visits, she met with other Pakistani officials, including Ali Hasan, Shakir, and Rana Shahbaz. Ali Hasan reportedly arranged her accommodation and travel within Pakistan. To conceal her activities, Jyoti saved Shakir’s number under the alias “Jat Radhawan” in her phone.
Digital Trail and Financial Probe
Police say Jyoti maintained constant communication with her Pakistani contacts through WhatsApp, Snapchat, and Telegram, frequently exchanging information. Authorities are now scrutinizing her bank accounts to trace the flow of funds and uncover the full extent of her involvement.
Kashmir and Pahalgam Connection
Jyoti also admitted to visiting Kashmir and Pakistan prior to the recent attack in Pahalgam, further deepening suspicions about her motives and associations. Investigators are probing whether her travels and contacts had any connection to the incident.
What’s Next?
The case has sent shockwaves through social media, highlighting the risks influencers face when chasing online fame without due caution. Hisar Police continue to investigate Jyoti Malhotra’s financial records and digital communications, while central agencies may also get involved given the cross-border espionage angle.
Jyoti Malhotra’s confession exposes how social media ambition can be exploited by foreign intelligence networks. Her case serves as a cautionary tale for digital creators and a reminder of the complex threats posed by online interactions in today’s interconnected world.
