New Delhi: Haryana-based YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra has landed in major trouble after her personal diary was recovered by police. The 33-year-old was recently arrested on charges of spying for Pakistan. Her diary, according to investigators, may contain key details about her suspected espionage activities.
Jyoti Malhotra was arrested from New Aggarsain Extension in Hisar on May 16. She ran a popular YouTube channel called Travel with JO, which had over 4 lakh subscribers.
She is among 11 people arrested in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh in the past two weeks. Authorities say the arrests are linked to a Pakistan-backed spy network active in North India.
Malhotra is currently in five-day police custody. A joint team of the NIA, Intelligence Bureau, and Haryana Police is interrogating her.
Her personal diary was recovered during a raid. It contains 10 to 11 pages written in both English and Hindi. Eight pages describe general travel experiences. Three pages focus on her time in Pakistan.
One diary entry reads:
“After completing a 10-day journey through Pakistan, today I return to my country, India. We don’t know how long the borders will last, but may the grievances of hearts disappear.”
She wrote about the warmth and hospitality she received in Pakistan. She also expressed a wish for Indian Hindus to visit religious sites across the border.
Police are now examining video footage from her Kashmir trip. She was often seen travelling with Priyanka Setupati, a resident of Odisha. Setupati has already been questioned by the agencies.
Investigators say Malhotra often stayed up late editing and uploading travel content. Her posts featured luxury trips, including one to Bali. But officials claim that behind the glamorous travel vlogs were suspicious movements and meetings.
Police say she lied to her family about her travel destinations. After her arrest, her family removed her photos from their home. Her father is reportedly shattered and has distanced himself from the case.
More Developments in the Case:
Hisar SP Shashank Kumar Sawan said Malhotra was being “developed” as an intelligence asset by Pakistani officials.
She was allegedly in contact with a Pakistani official from the High Commission in Delhi. This contact happened before and during the military standoff that followed the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
SP Sawan called it “modern warfare,” where foreign agents recruit influencers for gathering intelligence.
Malhotra had travelled to Pakistan, China, and other countries. Authorities are now reconstructing her entire travel history.
In 2023, she met Ehsan-ur-Rahim (alias Danish) at the Pakistan High Commission. Ehsan was expelled from India on May 13 over spying charges.
Two other accused — Guzala and Yameen Mohammad from Malerkotla — were also arrested recently. They allegedly shared Army base images with Pakistan for money. They had met the same official while applying for visas.
Another accused, Sukhpreet Singh from Gurdaspur, was also arrested. His family claims he is innocent.
Jyoti Malhotra’s case is now being seen as part of a wider intelligence operation involving social media influencers. Authorities believe her diary may help trace her links, contacts, and the full extent of the alleged spying network. Investigations are ongoing.
