From vlogs to espionage: YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra’s timeline of betrayal

The 33-year-old, who hails from Hisar, has been booked under Sections 3, 4, and 5 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923, and Section 152 of the BNS.

Haryana-based travel vlogger Jyoti Malhotra, known online for her popular YouTube channel Travel with Jo, was arrested on Saturday for allegedly leaking classified military information to Pakistani intelligence agencies. She is currently under police custody and being interrogated by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW).

The 33-year-old, who hails from Hisar, has been booked under Sections 3, 4, and 5 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923, and Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), a newly-enacted provision targeting offences endangering national security.

With over 3.77 lakh subscribers, Malhotra is a well-known figure in India’s travel vlogging community. However, authorities allege she was involved in a cross-border espionage network and passed sensitive information related to Indian Army deployments in northern regions.

A timeline of her alleged links with Pakistan:

2023: First known contact with Pakistani diplomat Rahim

According to the FIR, Malhotra first came into contact with Pakistani High Commission official Ehsan-ur-Rahim, also known as Danish, during a gathering at the High Commission in New Delhi. Investigators allege Rahim, who has since been expelled from India for espionage activities, later became her handler and introduced her to operatives of Pakistan's intelligence network.

March 30, 2024: The video that sparked red flags

On March 30, last year, Malhotra uploaded a video of herself attending an Iftar dinner at the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi. In the 15-minute clip, she is seen enthusiastically praising the hospitality and repeatedly asking for help in obtaining Pakistani visas.

“I am mesmerised. I have no words. I am excited, super duper excited. Bhaisahab, main toh hil gayi (I’m blown away),” she tells her followers in a mix of Hindi and English.

In the video that has now drawn the attention of investigators, Malhotra is seen attending an Iftar gathering at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. The footage begins with Malhotra being warmly welcomed by Ehsan-ur-Rahim, alias Danish, a Pakistani diplomat who was later expelled from India on espionage charges.

The video shows Danish escorting her to the venue, where she expresses her excitement, saying, “I’m feeling so happy to see him and the arrangements.” As they enter the event, Danish introduces her to other guests, describing her as a popular content creator with over 100,000 subscribers.

Panning over the setup, Malhotra enthusiastically narrates, “Look at the arrangements at the embassy this time. It’s mesmerising. I’m super duper excited!”

Later in the clip, she is seen speaking again with Danish, who introduces his wife to her. The three briefly discuss Pakistan’s National Day celebrations.

Malhotra then engages with other Indian attendees, asking whether they had ever visited Pakistan and how their experience had been. She adds, “I also want to go to Pakistan,” reflecting her apparent fascination with the country.

The video ends with Danish thanking her for attending the event, with both appearing at ease on camera.

2023-2025: Multiple visits to Pakistan

Malhotra has reportedly made at least three trips to Pakistan over the past two years, visiting locations such as Lahore and the Katas Raj Temple, and sharing videos of her experiences on her channel. Her most recent trip appears to have taken place nearly two months ago, as indicated by uploads on her YouTube channel.

These vlogs often carried captions like "Indian girl in Pakistan", “Ishq Lahore” (Love for Lahore), and included cultural comparisons between India and Pakistan.

In her latest video uploaded on her YouTube channel, Malhotra can be seen interacting with Pakistani media and saying, “Sadda Dil Delhi, Tuhada Dil Lahore.” In the same video, she also engages with officials from the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi's Chanakyapuri, while attending her second Iftar party at the embassy, mentioning that her ancestral roots trace back to Multan in Pakistan.

Image courtesy: Screengrab from Travel with JO Youtube channel

Malhotra in Lahore a year back. (Image courtesy: Malhotra's Instagram account)

During these visits, she was reportedly hosted by individuals connected to Pakistani intelligence agencies, and allegedly used intermediaries to secure her travel documents.

As per authorities, she also developed a personal relationship with one operative, and the two later travelled together to Bali in Indonesia.

April 22, 2025: Pahalgam Terror Attack and Retaliation

A terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam killed 26 Indian security personnel, triggering a major military retaliation named Operation Sindoor. In the aftermath, diplomatic scrutiny increased.

May 13, 2025: Diplomat Rahim expelled

On the basis of intelligence reports, Rahim was declared persona non grata and expelled from India on charges of espionage.

Behind the scenes, authorities allege a far more serious development between Malhotra and Danish.

Malhotra, during her trips to Pakistan, reportedly came into contact with Danish’s associate, Ali Ahwan, who facilitated her stay in the country and arranged meetings with Pakistani security and intelligence personnel, according to the FIR booked at the Civil Lines Police Station on Friday.

According to the FIR, Malhotra allegedly held several meetings with Danish at the High Commission and maintained communication with Pakistani intelligence operatives.

She is accused of using encrypted apps such as WhatsApp, Telegram, and Snapchat to stay in touch with these individuals, and of passing on sensitive information in violation of India’s national security laws.

The FIR further notes that Malhotra met Rahim on multiple occasions at the High Commission and remained in contact with Pakistani intelligence operatives even after her visits.

Authorities have also uncovered a broader espionage network linked to her, spanning across Haryana and Punjab. So far, six people have been arrested in connection with the case for allegedly transmitting classified information to Pakistan.

Malhotra came under the scanner amid India’s intensified monitoring of suspected cross-border links, following a major escalation in hostilities with Pakistan. The confrontation, among the deadliest in recent decades, erupted after the Indian armed forces launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 to target terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).