Indian authorities have arrested a popular travel YouTuber on espionage charges for allegedly sharing sensitive military information with Pakistan. Jyoti Malhotra, 33, who ran a YouTube channel under the name Travel With Jo, was taken into custody in Hisar, Haryana, police confirmed on Saturday.
Malhotra is one of six individuals from Punjab and Haryana arrested in connection with the case. Others include a 25-year-old student and a 24-year-old private security guard. Police allege that the accused had connections with officials in the Pakistan High Commission and were involved in leaking sensitive information related to Indian military movements.
Officials claim that Malhotra came into contact with an individual identified as Ahsan-ur-Rahim, also known as Danish, a Pakistan High Commission official who has since been expelled from India. Following last week’s escalation of cross-border tensions—including the Indian military’s retaliatory Operation Sindoor after the Pahalgam terror attack—Rahim was declared persona non grata and ordered to leave the country within 24 hours.
According to investigators, Malhotra first met Rahim in 2023 at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi while applying for a travel visa. She later traveled to Pakistan on two occasions, where she allegedly met with individuals linked to Pakistani intelligence agencies. Her visits were reportedly facilitated by a contact of Rahim, identified as Ali Ahwan, who is said to have arranged accommodation and logistics for her within Pakistan.
In statements made during the preliminary investigation, Malhotra admitted to meeting Pakistani intelligence officials but insisted her trips were made for the purpose of shooting travel content. Her father, Haris Malhotra, defended her actions, claiming she had obtained all necessary permissions for her travel and had merely been in touch with friends across the border.
“She made YouTube videos. She used to visit Pakistan and other places. If she has friends there, can’t she call them?” he said, speaking to the ANI news agency. “I have no demands, but return our phones. A case has been registered against us.”
Authorities have yet to release details about the nature of the sensitive information allegedly passed on, but the case comes at a time of heightened security concerns and strained relations between the two nations.
Malhotra remains in police custody as the investigation continues. Further arrests have not been ruled out.
