Haryana travel blogger Jyoti Malhotra arrested for alleged links with Pakistan’s ISI

Chandigarh: Popular Indian travel blogger and YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra has been arrested on charges of anti-national activities and alleged links with Pakistan’s intelligence agency, ISI.

Malhotra, who runs the YouTube channel ‘Travel with Joe’ and commands millions of followers across social media, is among six individuals arrested in connection with the case. The others are reportedly from various parts of Haryana and Punjab.

According to intelligence inputs, Malhotra visited Pakistan in 2023 after securing a visa through the Pakistan High Commission. During her trip, she developed a close relationship with Ahsan-your-Rahim alias Danish, an official at the Pakistan High Commission.

Danish later introduced her to other ISI agents, including Ali Ahsan and Shakir, also known as Rana Shahbaz. Sources said Malhotra had saved Shahbaz’s contact as ‘Jatt Randhawa’ on her phone.

Investigators revealed that Malhotra remained in touch with these agents via encrypted platforms such as WhatsApp, Telegram, and Snapchat. She allegedly projected a favourable image of Pakistan on social media while also sharing sensitive information related to Indian locations.

The arrests followed a multi-agency probe based on inputs indicating that vital information was being passed on to Pakistani intelligence officials. Officials said Malhotra was assisted in her travel and accommodation in Pakistan by Danish and Ali Ahsan. She also reportedly accompanied a Pakistani intelligence officer on a recent trip to Bali, Indonesia.

A written confessional statement has been recorded in the case, and legal proceedings are underway.