A high-profile espionage network has been busted in Haryana and Punjab, and the authorities have arrested 6 individuals accused of leaking sensitive information to Pakistan. Among the arrested, one name is YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra aka Jyoti Rani. YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra was arrested on Saturday by the Civil Lines Police in Hisar on charges of spying for Pakistan. As per the FIR copy, Jyoti was questioned by the Police and was later arrested. She is a resident of New Agrasen Extension, EBS Road, Hisar, Haryana. Jyoti Malhotra's Arrest has sparked massive concern and outrage on social media. People are wondering how a YouTuber of such a stature can be brainwashed and forced into spying for the enemy nation of Pakistan. Continue reading below to know about Jyoti Malhotra ISI Story-
Who is Jyoti Malhotra?
Jyoti Malhotra is a Travel Blogger and YouTuber who is famous both on Instagram and YouTube. On YouTube, Jyoti Malhotra owns a page named Travel with JO. Travel with JO has a whopping 377K subscribers, and she also made a video on Pakistan when she visited there. Talking about Jyoti Malhotra's Instagram handle, she enjoys a whopping 131K followers. Her Instagram bio describes that she has roots in both Haryana and Punjab.
Jyoti Rani, daughter of Haris Kumar, resident of Hisar, Haryana, was interrogated for allegedly passing information to the Pakistani side. She allegedly met a Pakistani officer, Ahsan-ur-Rahim, in Delhi, travelled to Pakistan twice, and shared sensitive info. A case was filed under the relevant sections.
Jyoti Malhotra FIR
FIR copy reads, "(Translated version) During the interrogation, Jyoti Rani said that I have a YouTube channel named "Travel with-Jo". I am a passport holder. I had gone to the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi in 2023 to get a visa to go to Pakistan, where I met Ahsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish. I had taken the mobile number of Ahsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, and then I started talking to Ahsan."
"After that, I traveled to Pakistan twice, where I met Ahsan's acquaintance Ali Ahwan on the advice of Ahsan-ur-Rahim, and Ali Ahwan made arrangements for my stay and travel. In Pakistan, Ali Ahwan arranged my meeting with Pakistani security and Italian officials and there I also met Shakir and Rana Shahbaz. I took Shakir's mobile number and saved it in my mobile under the name of Jat Radhawa so that no one would suspect me. Then I came back to India."
"Then I was in constant touch with all the above through social media platforms like Whatsapp, Snapchat, and Telegram and started exchanging anti-national information. I kept meeting Ahsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, an officer in the Pak High Commission in Delhi, many times. Jyoti Rani, daughter of Haris Kumar, has committed a crime by endangering the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India by carrying out suspicious activities and exchanging Indian intelligence information with a citizen of enemy country Pakistan, who has been declared Persona-non-grata by the Government of India on charges of espionage, hence a case has been registered by writing a complaint against Jyoti Rani, daughter of Haris Kumar."
How was Jyoti Malhotra turned into an ISI agent?
During her stay in Pakistan, she was influenced and used by Pakistani agents to:
- Gather and share sensitive information about India.
- Project a positive image of Pakistan on social media.
- Travel to foreign destinations like Bali with a Pakistani operative she was romantically involved.
Jyoti admitted that she provided confidential data and was in a relationship with a Pakistani operative. She also allegedly received funds, followed instructions to attend events like Defence Expo 2025, and visited sensitive Indian sites.
Based on the complaint and evidence, Jyoti has been booked under the following charges: Section 152 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Sections 3, 4, and 5 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923.