Long before travel vlogger Jyoti Malhotra was arrested for allegedly spying for Pakistan, concerns about her suspicious activities had already been raised by a vigilant citizen. Known for her popular YouTube channel “Travel with Jo,” boasting close to 4 lakh subscribers, Malhotra has now become a key suspect in a probe into a Pakistani espionage network operating across northern India.

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Malhotra, who hails from Hisar, was taken into custody in May 2025 on charges of sharing sensitive Indian military information with Pakistani intelligence. This development followed the Pahalgam terror attack, which killed over 25 civilians, heightening scrutiny of espionage activities linked to Pakistan.

What makes the case more striking is that an Indian social media user had flagged her suspicious behavior a year earlier. In May 2024, a concerned X user named Kapil Jain posted a warning urging the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to monitor Malhotra, citing her visits to Pakistan and Kashmir as potential red flags. This early caution gained renewed attention and viral traction after her arrest.

The investigation reveals that Malhotra had traveled twice to Pakistan in 2023, where she allegedly made contact with Pakistani officials, including Ehsan-ur-Rahim, a staff member at the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi who was expelled for espionage. Another individual, Ali Ahwan, reportedly helped arrange Malhotra’s stay and introduced her to Pakistani intelligence contacts, including Shakir and Rana Shahbaz. Notably, Malhotra saved Shahbaz’s phone number under a disguised name to avoid detection.

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Despite her public persona as a travel influencer with a significant following on YouTube and Instagram, Malhotra’s case highlights growing concerns about the use of social media platforms for covert intelligence activities.

Authorities continue their probe to determine the full extent of Malhotra’s involvement and the broader espionage network operating in the region.