Journey vlogger Jyoti Malhotra, also referred to as Jyoti Rani, was arrested on Saturday for allegedly spying for Pakistan and leaking delicate Indian navy data.
The 33-year-old is amongst six folks booked underneath fees of espionage.
Who Is Jyoti Malhotra?
Jyoti Malhotra is a journey vlogger from Haryana who runs a YouTube channel known as ‘Journey With Jo’. Her Instagram deal with, ‘travelwithjo1’, has 1.37 lakh followers.
Her Instagram bio describes her as a “Nomadic Leo Lady. Wanderer. Haryanvi + Punjabi trendy lady with outdated concepts.”
Her social media reveals she has a eager curiosity in bike driving and solo journey.
Ms Malhotra has travelled extensively throughout India and overseas nations, together with Pakistan, Bhutan, Indonesia, and China.
She visited Pakistan twice, and her content material from there has attracted scrutiny from Indian investigators.
Round two months in the past, she posted a number of movies and reels from Pakistan, displaying her go to to Lahore’s Anarkali Bazaar, Katas Raj Temple, and a bus journey throughout the nation. Considered one of her Instagram captions learn “Ishq (love) Lahore”, and her content material included comparisons between Indian and Pakistani tradition and protection of Pakistani delicacies.
In 2023, Jyoti Malhotra visited Pakistan for the primary time utilizing a visa organized via fee brokers, throughout which she got here in touch with Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, an official on the Pakistan Excessive Fee in Delhi. She later developed shut ties with Rahim, who launched her to Pakistani intelligence operatives.
Ms Malhotra allegedly remained in contact with these handlers after returning to India and is accused of sharing delicate Indian Military motion and placement particulars as a part of an espionage community spanning Haryana and Punjab.
She reportedly visited Pakistan twice and was hosted there by Rahim’s affiliate, Ali Ahwan.
In 2024, she additionally travelled to Kashmir, importing movies from Dal Lake and the Srinagar-Banihal railway route. Investigators additional declare she fashioned an intimate relationship with one Pakistani operative and even accompanied him to Bali, Indonesia.
Her arrest comes shortly after India’s Operation Sindoor, a retaliatory strike in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror assault, which killed 26 folks. Following the operation, Rahim was declared persona non grata and expelled from India on Might 13 for espionage.