The arrest of Haryana-based travel vlogger Jyoti Malhotra has exposed a suspected espionage network allegedly backed by Pakistan’s intelligence agency, ISI. Malhotra, a popular figure on YouTube and Instagram with over 4 lakh and 1.3 lakh followers respectively, is among 11 individuals arrested for spying for Pakistan. Her online presence and frequent international travel reportedly made her an attractive target for ISI recruitment.
According to intelligence sources, Malhotra established contacts near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border—an area known for terrorist activity and restricted civilian access. Authorities suspect that ISI aimed to exploit social media influencers like her to both collect intelligence and promote pro-Pakistan narratives under the guise of travel content.
Currently in five-day police custody, Malhotra is being interrogated by a joint team from the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Intelligence Bureau (IB), and Haryana Police. Officials claim she has been evasive and attempted to mislead investigators. Though she initially denied any links to Pakistani High Commission official Ehsan Dar (alias Danish), who was expelled from India on May 13, digital forensics reportedly uncovered deleted chats that may have included instructions or sensitive data.
Malhotra’s travel history is now under a microscope. Authorities are investigating her visits to Pakistan, China, and Bangladesh. Her 2023 trip to Pakistan, ostensibly to attend the Baisakhi festival, and a 2024 visit to China—allegedly arranged during her time in Pakistan—have raised suspicions. One of her videos even shows her requesting a Chinese visa at the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi.
Investigators have found personal diary entries in both Hindi and English, which mention warm interactions with Pakistani Army personnel and express nostalgic sentiments about the Partition. One entry reads: “After completing a 10-day journey in Pakistan, I have now returned to my own country… Who knows how long these distances across borders will last, but the grievances of hearts should be resolved.” Another praises Pakistan’s preservation of temples and efforts to reconnect Partition-separated families.
Further deepening the case, intelligence agencies discovered content in Malhotra’s cloud storage that allegedly documents movement of Indian military troops, BSF patrols, and radar installations. Her YouTube videos filmed in high-security zones—including Pathankot, Ladakh, Nathu La Pass, and Dal Lake—are now under detailed scrutiny. Her videos from Kashmir, particularly from Pahalgam, are being analyzed for possible links to the April 22 terror attack that left 25 dead, including 24 tourists and one local resident.
The investigation continues to unravel the disturbing intersection of travel content creation and covert intelligence gathering, highlighting a new age of espionage that exploits the reach of digital influencers.
