Jyoti Malhotra, who was arrested along with six others for sharing sensitive information with Pakistani agents, operates the YouTube channel ‘Travel with Jo’ and has about 3,77,000 followers.
Jyoti Malhotra, the Haryana-based travel vlogger arrested for allegedly spying for Pakistan, enjoys wide popularity on YouTube and Instagram and posted several videos of her visits to the neighbouring country earlier this year. Jyoti Malhotra, who was arrested along with six others for sharing sensitive information with Pakistani agents, operates the YouTube channel ‘Travel with Jo’ and has about 3,77,000 followers.
Her Instagram account, ‘travelwithjo1’, also has 1,32,000 followers. “Nomadic Leo Girl. Wanderer Haryanvi + Punjabi modern girl with old ideas,” says the description on both her YouTube and Instagram accounts.
Her accounts reveal that she travelled widely across India as well as to foreign destinations like Indonesia and China. However, of particular interest is her numerous videos and reels on her trip to Pakistan.
VISIT TO LAHORE, PAKISTAN
The videos were posted around two months ago. Through her travelogues, Malhotra has attempted to portray several positive aspects of Pakistan. Investigators said Malhotra was used by foreign agents to record such videos for propaganda purposes due to her influence as a social media personality.
The videos show her crossing the Attari-Wagah border, exploring Lahore’s Anarkali Bazaar, undertaking a bus journey, and her visit to the biggest Hindu temple, Katas Raj Temple, in Pakistan.
One of the photos on her Instagram handle features a caption in Urdu, “Ishq Lahore”. She also shared content about Pakistani food, and made comparisons about the culture between the two countries.
Malhotra also visited Kashmir last year, with videos showing her enjoying a shikara ride in Dal Lake. She also posted a video of taking a train ride from Srinagar to Banihal.
One of her latest videos was her take on the Pahalgam terror attack, which left 26 people dead, and led India to launch Operation Sindoor. “My views on Pahalgam Kashmir: Shall we visit Kashmir again?” the caption of her video read.
YOUTUBER’S LINK TO PAKISTAN
Investigators said Malhotra first visited Pakistan in 2023 after acquiring a visa through commission agents. During her visit, she came in contact with one Ehsan-ur-Rahim, alias Danish, an official who was posted at the Pakistan High Commission (PHC) in New Delhi.
Soon, they developed close relations and Ehsan introduced her to intelligence operatives in Pakistan. Earlier this month, Ehsan was declared persona non grata and expelled on May 13, 2025, as India downgraded diplomatic ties with Pakistan.
After returning to India, Malhotra maintained contact with Pakistani operatives through encrypted platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Snapchat.
