Haryana-based YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra among six arrested in espionage case linked to Pakistan

Apart from Jyoti, another key accused is Guzala, a 32-year-old widow from Malerkotla, Punjab.

Arrest of Jyoti Malhotra, a Haryana-based travel blogger known for her YouTube channel “Travel with Jo,” has unearthed a major espionage network involving six Indian nationals.The accused have been charged with sharing sensitive information with Pakistani intelligence operatives and coordinating through encrypted digital platforms.

Jyoti reportedly stayed in touch with these operatives through encrypted messaging applications like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Snapchat. One of the operatives, identified as Shakir alias Rana Shahbaz, was saved in her contacts under the alias “Jatt Randhawa.”

She is alleged to have passed on location-sensitive information related to Indian territories and promoted pro-Pakistan content on her social media platforms. Investigations also reveal that she entered into an intimate relationship with one of the operatives and accompanied him on an overseas trip to Bali, Indonesia.

Jyoti has been charged under Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 3, 4, and 5 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923. A written confession has been obtained, and the case has been handed over to the Economic Offences Wing, Hisar.

Apart from Jyoti, another key accused is Guzala, a 32-year-old widow from Malerkotla, Punjab. On February 27, 2025, Guzala visited the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi to apply for a visa.

Others arrested in the case include Yameen Mohd from Malerkotla, who collaborated with the Danish in financial dealings and visa-related activities; Devinder Singh Dhillon from Kaithal, Haryana, a Sikh student who was recruited during a pilgrimage to Pakistan and sent videos of Patiala cantonment; and Arman from Nuh, Haryana, who supplied Indian SIM cards, transferred funds, and visited the Defence Expo 2025 on instructions from Pakistan Intelligence Operatives.

Media outlets citing senior officials stated that the espionage ring targeted vulnerable individuals across religious and social lines, manipulating them through emotional connections, monetary gifts, and false promises of marriage. The network spanned both Haryana and Punjab, operating through a web of digital communication, financial incentives, and covert interactions with Pakistani intelligence personnel.