Key Highlights
✔ 6 individuals detained for allegedly leaking sensitive info to Pakistan-based operatives
✔ YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra (“Travel with Jo”) accused of espionage after 2023 Pakistan visit
✔ Pak High Commission staffer Ehsan-ur-Rahim (expelled May 13) facilitated her travels
✔ Network spanned Haryana & Punjab, involving financial conduits & informants
✔ Charges filed under Official Secrets Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita
The YouTuber’s Alleged Espionage Activities
1. Pakistan Connection
- Malhotra visited Pakistan in 2023 with help from Ehsan-ur-Rahim (Pak High Commission staffer)
- Maintained contact with Pak intelligence operatives via WhatsApp, Telegram & Snapchat
- Saved a handler’s number as “Jatt Randhawa”
2. Sensitive Data Leak
- Shared location details of strategic Indian sites
- Used her platform to promote positive narratives about Pakistan
- Had an intimate relationship with a Pak intelligence agent, traveled with him to Bali, Indonesia
3. Legal Action
- Charged under:
- Section 152, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)
- Sections 3, 4, 5 of Official Secrets Act
- Case transferred to Economic Offences Wing, Hisar
Other Key Accused in the Spy Ring
| Name | Role | Key Allegations |
|---|---|---|
| Guzala (Malerkotla) | Financial conduit | Visited Pak High Commission, received money from Danish |
| Yameen Mohd (Malerkotla) | Visa facilitator | Assisted in financial transactions |
| Devinder Dhillon (Kaithal) | Informant | Sent videos of Patiala cantonment |
| Arman (Nuh) | Logistics | Provided Indian SIM cards, attended DefExpo 2025 on ISI instructions |
Modus Operandi
- Operatives lured widows & students with visa help, marriage promises
- Used encrypted apps for communication
- Fund transfers through hawala & direct payments
Why This Case Matters
- Exposes Pakistan’s continued espionage efforts in India
- Highlights exploitation of social media influencers for intelligence gathering
- Follows expulsion of Pak diplomat (May 13) in similar case
What’s Next?
- Further interrogations underway
- Possibility of more arrests as probe expands
- Heightened scrutiny on visa applicants with Pak links
“This network was carefully groomed to extract sensitive information. Investigations reveal a systematic ISI-backed operation.” – Security Official