‘Spy’ YouTuber outed by own video, exposes link to expelled Pakistani official

YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra from Haryana, who operates a travel vlog channel named ‘Travel with JO’, has been detained on accusations of sharing sensitive information with operatives from Pakistani intelligence. Her videos have faced examination after the arrest, with one showing her connection to a Pakistani official at the High Commission in India.

Last year, Malhotra accepted a “special invitation” from the Pakistan High Commission to go to an Iftar dinner. She later posted a video of the occasion, showing her interacting effortlessly with a High Commission official she refers to as Danish, indicating an established acquaintance between them.

The government designated Ehsan-ur-Rahim, also known as Danish, as persona non grata and removed him on May 13, citing espionage accusations. Investigations show that Malhotra developed a strong bond with Danish during a visit to Pakistan in 2023, having secured a visa via commission agents. It is claimed that Danish was the individual who later connected Malhotra with various Pakistani Intelligence Operatives (PIOs).

The video shows Malhotra being received by Danish upon arriving for the event and being accompanied by him to the venue. The YouTuber is heard saying, “I am feeling so happy to see him and the arrangements”.

As she enters the venue, Danish is seen introducing her to other guests, saying, “She is a YouTuber and a vlogger. Her name is Jyoti. Her channel is called Travel with Jo. She has over 100k subscribers”.

Further explaining the atmosphere at the iftar party, she says in the video, “See the arrangement at the embassy this time. It mesmerises me. I’m excited, super duper excited!”

Later in the video, she is seen again with Danish, who at this point introduces his wife to Malhotra. They are seen discussing Pakistan’s National Day.

The YouTuber then asks Indian attendees at the event whether they have ever visited Pakistan and what their experience was like during the trip. She also adds, “I also want to go to Pakistan”.

The 15-minute video wraps up with a farewell alongside Danish, who expressed gratitude to Malhotra for joining. The vlogger, boasting 3.7 lakh subscribers on her YouTube channel and 1.3 lakh followers on Instagram, was apprehended on Saturday and is now in a five-day police custody.

Her YouTube channel includes various videos chronicling her trip to Pakistan, with titles like ‘Indian Girl in Pakistan’, ‘Indian Girl Exploring Lahore’, ‘Indian Girl at Katas Raj Temple’, and ‘Indian Girl Takes Luxury Bus in Pakistan’.

Investigations have shown that she had several meetings with Danish at the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi and kept in touch with Pakistani Intelligence Operatives. She reportedly interacted with individuals and agents from Pakistan through platforms such as WhatsApp, Telegram, and Snapchat, and faces accusations of sharing sensitive information with them.