Haryana YouTuber arrested on charges of spying for Pakistan

Travel vlogger and YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, a resident of Hisar town, was arrested by the police on the charges of espionage for Pakistan. Following inputs from Central Intelligence Agencies and an inquiry by the CIA staff of Hisar police, she was arrested from her residence at New Agarsain Extension.

According to the FIR registered at Hisar Civil Lines Police Station, Jyoti — who operates a YouTube travel channel under the name ‘Travel with Jo’ — had developed contacts with Pakistani nationals and intelligence operatives during her visit to Pakistan in 2023.

As per the FIR, Jyoti reportedly disclosed that she had initially visited the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi to apply for a visa, where she met Ahsan-Ur-Rahim alias Danish. After the meeting, she stayed in contact with him and later travelled to Pakistan twice. During her visits, she met a person named Ali Ahwan, who arranged her accommodation and facilitated meetings with officers from Pakistan’s intelligence and security agencies.

Also read: Who is Jyoti Malhotra, the Haryana YouTuber at the centre of Pakistani spy network

The FIR stated that the accused also met two other persons identified as Shakir and Rana Shahbaz. She saved their contact information in her mobile phone under false identities. Upon returning to India, she remained in contact with them through social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Snapchat and Telegram.

Significantly, the FIR also reveals that Ahsan-Ur-Rahim, with whom Jyoti maintained prolonged contact, had been declared persona non grata by the Government of India on May 13, 2025, for espionage-related activities. Jyoti’s continued association and information exchange with him after his designation forms a crucial part of the case, the FIR said.

Jyoti is accused of exchanging sensitive information with them, posing a threat to national integrity and security. She has been booked under Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and Sections 3, 4, and 5 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923, which deal with acts prejudicial to the safety or interests of the state, communication with foreign agents, and unauthorised handling of official secrets. Inspector Nirmala has been assigned the investigation into the case and the accused is expected to be produced before a magistrate in Hisar for further legal proceedings.