Indian authorities arrested six people for allegedly leaking secret information to Pakistani agents on May 17. Among them was Jyoti Malhotra, a Haryana-based YouTuber who runs the channel “Travel with Jo.”
Malhotra Visited Pakistan, Met Spies
According to officials, Malhotra visited Pakistan in 2023. During her trip, she reportedly met several agents from Pakistan’s intelligence service. Notably, Ehsan-ur-Rahim, also known as Danish, helped her enter Pakistan. He worked at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi at the time.
Earlier, on May 13, India had declared Danish persona non grata due to rising tensions with Pakistan.
She Used Encrypted Apps to Share Details
Moreover, investigators revealed that Malhotra was part of a broader spy network that operated across Haryana and Punjab. This group included local agents, money handlers, and informants.
She stayed in contact with Pakistani operatives using encrypted platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Snapchat. One of her handlers was Shakir, also called Rana Shahbaz. She saved his number as “Jatt Randhawa.”
Furthermore, officials said she shared sensitive details about Indian locations. They also alleged that she promoted a positive image of Pakistan on her social media accounts.
In addition, authorities claimed that she had a close relationship with a Pakistani spy and even travelled to Bali, Indonesia, with him.
Police File Serious Charges
As a result, police booked Malhotra under Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Sections 3, 4, and 5 of the Official Secrets Act. Investigators obtained a written confession from her. They later transferred the case to the Economic Offences Wing in Hisar.
Two Widows Targeted by Spy Handler
Meanwhile, the police identified another key accused named Guzala, a 32-year-old widow from Malerkotla, Punjab. On February 27, 2025, she visited the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi to apply for a visa. There, she met Danish.
Eventually, Danish persuaded her to move their chats from WhatsApp to Telegram. He told her it was safer. He gained her trust by saying he wanted to marry her. They began chatting and making video calls regularly.
Later, he started sending her money. Then on April 23, she returned to the High Commission with her friend, Banu Nasreena, another widow from Malerkotla. Danish helped both of them get visas, which were issued the next day.
Others Played Key Roles in Espionage
Additionally, police arrested Yameen Mohd from Malerkotla. He worked closely with Danish, managing money transfers and visa arrangements.
Another accused, Devinder Singh Dhillon from Kaithal, Haryana, is a Sikh student. He visited Pakistan on a religious trip. During the visit, Pakistani agents recruited him. Later, he sent them videos of the Patiala cantonment.
Lastly, officials arrested Arman from Nuh, Haryana. He provided Indian SIM cards to the spy network. He also moved funds and visited the Defence Expo 2025 as instructed by the Pakistani intelligence agents.