New Delhi, May 19, 2025: In a chilling revelation that has shaken national security agencies, popular Indian YouTuber and travel influencer Jyoti Malhotra was arrested last Friday by Hisar police on charges of espionage and maintaining links with Pakistani intelligence operatives. Jyoti, who hails from Haryana and runs a YouTube channel named ‘Travel With Jo’, is now at the center of a widening investigation involving Pakistan’s notorious spy agency ISI and terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba.
Trained by Lashkar-e-Taiba in Pakistan? According to a confidential intelligence report cited by the media, Jyoti was trained at Lashkar-e-Taiba’s main base in Muridke, Pakistan. She allegedly stayed there for 14 days, receiving espionage training before being sent back to India for a “special covert operation.” However, before the mission could commence, Jyoti was arrested.
Jyoti Malhotra Spy Scandal: Lashkar Training, ISI Links, and a Deepening National Security Threat
Notably, this Pakistan visit happened just days before the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, which killed 26 people. During interrogation, Jyoti admitted to her Pakistan trip, although the exact nature of her mission remains unclear.
Social Media Clues & Suspicious Travel History: Jyoti’s social media profiles revealed videos of her trips to Lahore’s Anarkali Bazaar, Katas Raj Temple in Punjab, and a crossing at Attari-Wagah border. She had also posted videos comparing Indian and Pakistani culture, earning massive views and growing her subscriber base to 3.85 lakh.
Her rapid rise in fame, luxurious stays in business-class flights and five-star hotels across countries raised red flags. Investigators are now probing whether ISI funded these lavish trips.
Espionage Network and Digital Footprints
Authorities have uncovered that Jyoti allegedly used WhatsApp, Telegram, and Snapchat to communicate with Pakistani spies. She saved their numbers under aliases like ‘Jatt Randhawa’, suspected to be ISI agent Shakir. Another alleged handler is Danish alias Ehsan-ur-Rahim, an officer from the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi, who was recently declared persona non grata by India.
Investigators found videos of an Iftar party hosted by the Pakistan High Commission last year, where Jyoti was seen engaging closely with Danish—raising suspicions about their pre-existing ties.
More Influencers Under Scanner: Sources say Jyoti first traveled to Pakistan in 2023 via contacts from the High Commission in Delhi. Her arrest has blown the lid off a wider network of influencer-spies, with 20+ Indian social media influencers now under the scanner for possible espionage links.
Why It Matters: This isn’t just another spy story. The case touches the soft power of social media, manipulation of digital trust, and the vulnerability of India’s national security apparatus in the digital age.
Ongoing Investigation: Police and intelligence agencies are thoroughly investigating how Jyoti acquired sensitive information and whether she passed it on to Pakistan’s ISI. Her swift rise on social media and frequent foreign tours have triggered deeper suspicions of a funding nexus.
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