Our Bureau
New Delhi
Haryana’s YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra arrested on espionage charges amidst the ongoing tension between India and Pakistan. As per the reports, during the four-day conflict between India and Pakistan, Jyoti was in contact with a Pakistani officer working at the Pakistani High Commission. According to the senior officials the YouTuber visited Pakistan multiple times and went to China once as well.
The 33-year-old YouTuber, Jyoti is a known face in the youtube circuit by her channel name, ‘Travel With Jo’. Although it was reported that she has not had any direct access to any defence or military operations, she has had access to other PIOs and could be used as an asset.
Hisar Superintendent of Police Shashank Kumar Sawan while addressing the media said, “Certainly, they were developing her as an asset. She was in touch with other YouTube influencers. They were also in touch with PIOs. This is also (a kind of) warfare, in which they try to push their narrative by recruiting influencers.”
He added, “Modern warfare is not only fought on the border. The PIOs are trying to recruit some social media influencers, and they use that to push their narrative. We received inputs from the central agencies, and we arrested Jyoti Malhotra. She had visited Pakistan multiple times and China once. She was in contact with the PIOs. We have taken her on a 5-day police remand. We are analysing her financial details. During the conflict (Indo-Pak), she was in touch with the PIOs… Her travel details are defying her total income.”
Malhotra, who has around 3.7 lakh subscribers and 1.3 lakh Instagram followers, got in touch with Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish at the Pakistan High Commission in 2023. According to the FIR lodged against her, Malhotra met Danish’s acquaintance Ali who arranged her stay in Pakistan when she visited the neighboring country. The police will do a forensic check on all her electronic devices which will help them find out the information she has shared with them.
