Haryana YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, who was arrested on espionage charges, was being “developed” by Pakistani intelligence operatives, according to the police. On Sunday, a senior Haryana cop said that she is believed to have been in contact with a Pakistani officer at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi while the military conflict between India and Pakistan peaked in the aftermath of the April 22 Pahalgam attack in Kashmir’s Baisaran valley region.
Influencer being recruited to push ‘narrative warfare’: Haryana Police
“Certainly they were developing her as an asset. She was in touch with her YouTuber influencers. They were also in touch with PIOs, the senior police officer said in Hisar, Haryana. “This is also (a kind of) warfare, in which they try to push their narrative by recruiting influencers.”
Hisar Superintendent of Police Shashank Kumar Sawan told reporters that even though she did not have direct access to any military-related information that she could have divulged to Pakistani officials, her connection with PIOs has been established. The Pakistani officer she was reportedly in contact with is the same person who was declared persona non grata and kicked out of India.
Jyoti Malhotra’s link with Pakistani officials, trip to China
33-year-old Jyoti Malhotra, a Hisar-based YouTuber, was behind the channel called “Travel with JO.” She was arrested from New Aggarsain Extension on Friday. Police has since also determined that they travel vloger had even travelled to China on one occasion. So far, she’s been booked under the Official Secrets Act and relevant provision of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). As part of the ongoing investigation with Jyoti at the centre, her financial transactions and travel history are being reviewed.
An FIR lodged at Civil Lines Police Station on May 16 stated that Malhotra came into contact with a significant figure at the High Commission, Ehsan-ur-Rahim, and his associated Ali Ahwan due to her 2023 visa application to Pakistan. In March 2025, the YouTuber shared the video titled “Indian girl in Pakistan… Crossing Wagah Border…”
Notably, an X user named Kapil Jain urged the National Investigation Agency, India, (NIA) to keep “close watch” on Jyoti Malhotra back in May 2024. “She first visited and attained pakistani embassy function then visited pakistan for 10 days now she is heading for kashmir… may be some link behind all these,” he wrote on X last year.