New Delhi : Haryana-based YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, who runs a travel vlog channel called ‘Travel with JO’, has been arrested on charges of passing sensitive information to Pakistani intelligence operatives. Last year, Malhotra accepted what she called a “special invitation” from the Pakistan High Commission to attend an Iftar dinner.
She subsequently shared a video of the event, which depicts her engaging comfortably with a High Commission official she identifies as Danish, suggesting a pre-existing familiarity between them. The government declared Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, persona non grata and expelled him on May 13, on charges of espionage. Investigations reveal that Malhotra cultivated a close relationship with Danish during a trip to Pakistan in 2023, having obtained a visa through commission agents.
The video shows Malhotra being received by Danish upon arriving for the event and being accompanied by him to the venue. The YouTuber is heard saying, “I am feeling so happy to see him and the arrangements”. As she enters the venue, Danish is seen introducing her to other guests, saying, “She is a YouTuber and a vlogger. Her name is Jyoti. Later she is seen again with Danish, who at this point introduces his wife to Malhotra. They are seen discussing Pakistan’s National Day.
The YouTuber then asks Indian attendees at the event whether they have ever visited Pakistan and what their experience was like during the trip. The vlogger, who has 3.7 lakh subscribers on her YouTube channel and 1.3 lakh followers on Instagram, was arrested on Saturday and is currently in a five-day police remand. Her YouTube channel features several videos documenting her visit to Pakistan, including titles such as ‘Indian Girl in Pakistan’, ‘Indian Girl Exploring Lahore’, ‘Indian Girl at Katas Raj Temple’, and ‘Indian Girl Rides Luxury Bus in Pakistan’.
