Who is Jyoti Malhotra, the YouTuber arrested in Hisar for allegedly spying for Pakistan?

Jyoti Malhotra, a travel blogger and YouTuber who ran the channel Desi-Indo-Joe, was arrested on Saturday by the Civil Lines police in Hisar, Haryana, on charges of espionage. Authorities allege she was involved in sharing sensitive information with Pakistani intelligence operatives.

According to the FIR, Malhotra had been in regular contact with Pakistani handlers through messaging platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Snapchat. Investigators claim she was actively passing on information that could compromise national security.

Malhotra had traveled extensively, including multiple visits to Pakistan. During interrogation, she claimed she was selected as part of a delegation to Pakistan in 2023. During that visit, she reportedly met a man identified as Ahsan-ur-Rahim, also known as Danish, and remained in contact with him after returning to India.


On a subsequent visit to Pakistan—allegedly at Ahsan’s suggestion—Malhotra was introduced to another man, Ali Ahsan, who then connected her with members of Pakistan’s intelligence and security apparatus.

Officials allege that during this period, Malhotra began sharing classified or sensitive information with her Pakistani contacts. She reportedly admitted to storing their contact details under false names to evade detection—an act viewed by authorities as a deliberate attempt to conceal her ties to foreign intelligence agents.

Police say her continued engagement with Pakistani operatives violates provisions of the Official Secrets Act and represents a serious national security breach. Investigations are ongoing to determine the extent of the information shared and whether others were involved in the operation.