NuzTube INDIA
Jyoti Malhotra, a 33-year-old travel YouTuber running the popular channel “Travel With Jo,” has been arrested on charges of spying for Pakistan, following revelations about her close interactions with officials from the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. Malhotra was apprehended for allegedly sharing sensitive Indian military information with Pakistani intelligence agencies, sparking a significant investigation into her activities.
The controversy began when a video surfaced showing Malhotra attending an Iftar dinner at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi last year. In the video, she is seen expressing admiration for the event’s arrangements and repeatedly voicing her eagerness to visit Pakistan. Throughout the gathering, she sought assistance from attendees, including diplomatic officials, to help her secure a visa to Pakistan.
The footage, posted publicly on March 30 last year on her YouTube channel, captures Malhotra warmly greeting Ehsan-ur-Rahim, also known as Danish, a Pakistan High Commission official. Rahim had previously been declared persona non grata by the Indian government and was expelled for espionage activities, including leaking sensitive information about the movements of the Indian Army. The video reveals a cordial relationship between Malhotra and Rahim, indicating multiple prior meetings. Malhotra also interacts with Rahim’s wife, further suggesting a well-established connection.
At the start of the video, Malhotra mentions her invitation to the Iftar party and showcases the grand decorations inside the High Commission, describing them as “superb.” Her enthusiasm is evident as she mixes Hindi and English to express her amazement: “I am mesmerised. I have no words. I am excited, super duper excited. Bhaisahab, main to hil gayi (I am so impressed).”
During the event, Rahim introduces Malhotra to various officials, while she proudly describes her travel YouTube channel to them. The conversation shifts to Pakistan Day celebrations held on March 23, with Malhotra complimenting the hospitality and arrangements. Rahim responds by saying, “This is how Pakistanis are.”
Malhotra also invites Rahim and his wife to visit her home in Hisar, Haryana, describing the hospitality of her village as “very similar” to what she witnessed at the High Commission. She enthusiastically asks several attendees if they have visited Pakistan, expressing her desire to travel there: “I want to go, too. Hopefully, I will get a visa, and we’ll go together,” she tells a fellow YouTuber present at the event.
Additionally, Malhotra is seen interacting with Chinese officials at the dinner, requesting a visa to China as well, humorously pleading, “Give me visa!” She also notes Rahim’s busy schedule at the event, praising his efforts to manage the attendees.
In other segments of the video, Malhotra recounts her previous visits to the Pakistan High Commission. She describes how a Pakistani official responsible for security would document her entries and ask to keep her phone and belongings aside, calling him “a very nice man.” She encourages other officials to grant her a visa and consistently praises the food served during the Iftar.
However, the story takes a darker turn with Malhotra’s arrest in Hisar. Authorities charged her with espionage, accusing her of passing sensitive military information to Pakistani intelligence. According to officials, she traveled to Pakistan at least twice, during which she allegedly met with Pakistani security and intelligence officers. Post these visits, she reportedly continued communication, sharing what has been classified as “anti-national” information.
On Saturday, Jyoti Malhotra was remanded to police custody for five days to facilitate further investigation. Her arrest has sent ripples through the security and diplomatic communities, raising concerns about the exploitation of social media influencers and travel vloggers as fronts for espionage.
The case underscores the challenges India faces regarding national security in the digital age, where seemingly innocuous interactions and social media presence can mask deeper threats. It also highlights the vigilance of Indian intelligence agencies in monitoring and countering espionage attempts within the country.
As the investigation progresses, officials continue to probe the extent of Malhotra’s activities and any possible accomplices. The incident serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of stringent background checks and surveillance over individuals who have access to sensitive or strategic information, even when operating under the guise of social media influencers.
In conclusion, the arrest of Jyoti Malhotra reveals the complex nexus between travel, diplomacy, and national security, reminding the public and authorities alike to remain alert to covert espionage tactics disguised in everyday interactions.
