Haryana-based YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, known online as Travel with JO, has been arrested on serious charges of passing sensitive information to Pakistani intelligence operatives. With a subscriber base of 3.7 lakh on YouTube and 1.3 lakh Instagram followers, her travel vlog channel came under scrutiny after Indian authorities linked her to espionage activities involving Pakistan’s intelligence network.
Her arrest follows the expulsion of Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, a Pakistani official from the High Commission in India, who was declared persona non grata on May 13. Danish is believed to have been instrumental in connecting Malhotra to Pakistani intelligence officers. Their relationship reportedly began during Malhotra’s 2023 trip to Pakistan, which she undertook using a visa obtained through commission agents.
A key piece of evidence is a now-viral video from 2023 in which Malhotra attended an Iftar event at the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi, calling it a “special invitation.” The video shows her being warmly received by Danish, with whom she seemed to share a close rapport. Danish introduced her to others at the event by name, highlighting her social media reach and vlogging credentials. Later in the same video, he also introduced her to his wife. Throughout the clip, Malhotra praises the arrangements and openly expresses her admiration for the event and her desire to visit Pakistan again.
Authorities claim this video, along with others on her channel—such as Indian Girl in Pakistan, Indian Girl Exploring Lahore, and Indian Girl at Katas Raj Temple—form part of a larger pattern of activity that extended beyond simple travel vlogging. Investigators allege that Malhotra maintained contact with Pakistani operatives through platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Snapchat, and transmitted sensitive information to them.
She is currently in five-day police remand, and investigators are reviewing her communications, content history, and digital transactions to assess the scope of information shared and the intent behind her associations. The case is being treated as a potential breach of national security, and further legal action will depend on the findings from her interrogation and digital forensic analysis.
