New Delhi, May 17, 2025: In a chilling revelation that has sent shockwaves across India’s digital influencer community, popular travel vlogger and YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, known for her channel ‘Travel With Jo’, has been arrested on serious charges of espionage and involvement in anti-national activities allegedly linked to Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI.
According to Indian security officials, Jyoti was not just traveling for leisure. Her 2023 visit to Pakistan, which was made possible through special visa facilitation, turned out to be the first chapter in a larger narrative of manipulation, seduction, and spying.
Behind the Scenes: Love, Lies, and Liaisons
Investigators reveal that Jyoti Malhotra came in close contact with Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, an officer at the Pakistan High Commission (PHC) in New Delhi. Their initial encounter quickly blossomed into a deep personal relationship, which Danish allegedly used to introduce her to other ISI operatives like Ali Ahsan and Shakir a.k.a. Rana Shehbaz (saved in her phone as “Jatt Randhawa”).
Through encrypted platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Snapchat, Jyoti maintained continuous contact with her handlers. She reportedly began promoting a pro-Pakistan narrative through her content, subtly shifting perception among her millions of followers, while also sharing sensitive Indian information related to defense areas and internal infrastructure.
The Spy Web Widens: Six Arrested, Including Another Woman
Jyoti is among six Indian citizens arrested so far, in what authorities describe as a “carefully structured espionage operation”. Those detained hail from Hisar, Kaithal, and Nuh in Haryana, and Malerkotla in Punjab. Their roles ranged from digital agents and couriers to financial facilitators and information gatherers.
One of the key players was Gajala, a widow from Malerkotla, Punjab, who was allegedly used to funnel money and assist in securing Pakistani visas. Her story mirrors that of Jyoti in more ways than one—emotional manipulation, false promises of love, and digital secrecy.
Gajala met Danish at the PHC in Delhi while applying for a visa in February 2025. Their connection deepened via video calls and chats. Promised love and marriage, she began transferring money to individuals designated by Danish. Investigators traced suspicious transactions totaling ₹30,000, many of which were divided among alleged ISI assets in India.
Even more disturbingly, she was granted a visa within 24 hours of her meeting with Danish—a rare occurrence raising red flags among Indian intelligence agencies.
Deep Penetration: From Sim Cards to Defense Sites
Another arrest in Haryana’s Nuh district led to Armaan, a local who reportedly procured Indian SIM cards for ISI operatives and even visited sensitive sites like the Defence Expo on their instruction. Similarly, Devinder Singh Dhillon from Kaithal was found to have filmed strategic areas like Patiala Cantonment and shared them with Pakistani agents.
Government Crackdown: Danish Declared Persona Non Grata
In a strong diplomatic response, India declared Ehsan-ur-Rahim (Danish) as ‘Persona Non Grata’ on May 13, 2025, ordering him to leave the country immediately. This rare move underlines the gravity of the espionage threat and the exploitation of soft influencers and unsuspecting citizens for intelligence work.
Cases against Jyoti and others have been registered under:
- BNS Section 152 (Waging war against the country),
- Official Secrets Act, 1923 (Sections 3, 4, and 5).
The Economic Offences Wing of Hisar has been entrusted with further investigations.
A Wake-Up Call for Social Media and National Security
This case isn’t just about one influencer’s betrayal. It reveals a sophisticated and ongoing attempt by Pakistan’s ISI to exploit social media personalities, emotional vulnerabilities, and financial weaknesses to infiltrate Indian institutions.
Authorities are now planning to intensify monitoring of digital platforms, especially accounts that seem to shape public perception with subtle political or diplomatic narratives. Cyber experts and analysts are being roped in to uncover potential sleeper cells operating under the guise of influencers or content creators.
The Bigger Picture
From vlogs to virtual betrayal, the journey of Jyoti Malhotra and her associates has exposed a disturbing new face of espionage in the digital era. Their arrest may have foiled an ongoing operation, but the case raises urgent questions about national security in an age of influencers and emotional manipulation.
As investigations continue, the Indian government is expected to enhance both visa screening mechanisms and cross-border digital monitoring. Meanwhile, public trust in social media influencers faces a new and unexpected test—one that reaches far beyond filters and travel videos.
