YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra under intense interrogation over China and Pak trips

Haryana-based travel vlogger Jyoti Malhotra, popularly known for her YouTube channel Travel with Jo, is under intense scrutiny by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Intelligence Bureau (IB) following her arrest on May 16.

The 33-year-old influencer is being investigated for alleged espionage activities tied to multiple visits to Pakistan and China.

With over 3.85 lakh subscribers, Malhotra built a reputation as a globe-trotting content creator. However, authorities now suspect she maintained covert ties with Pakistani intelligence operatives (PIOs), raising alarm over possible national security breaches.

Pak and China tours

Officials allege that Malhotra shared sensitive information with Pakistani handlers, including Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish—a former official at the Pakistan High Commission who was expelled from India on May 13 over espionage charges. Her 14-day visit to Pakistan in April 2024 and a China trip in June 2024 are key points of investigation, particularly given her apparent access to high-level circles and a lifestyle reportedly inconsistent with her declared income.

According to police sources, Malhotra received VIP treatment in Pakistan, including police escorts and attendance at elite events involving Pakistan Army and ISI personnel.

Investigators are examining her encrypted communications via WhatsApp, Telegram, and Snapchat with individuals such as Ali Ahwan, Shakir, and Rana Shahbaz—alleged Pakistani intelligence figures.

One major focus of the investigation is Malhotra’s visit to Pakistan shortly before the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025, which claimed 26 civilian lives. While no direct link has yet been established, officials are exploring whether she had any prior knowledge or indirect involvement.

Her trip to China is also under the scanner. Reports indicate she met high-ranking Chinese officials and traveled in luxury vehicles, raising further questions about her sources of funding. Forensic teams are currently analyzing her financial transactions, electronic devices, and deleted chat logs with Danish, especially those exchanged during India’s retaliatory Operation Sindoor.

Digital footprints

Malhotra’s digital footprint is being closely examined. Videos praising Pakistan and footage from an Iftar party at the Pakistan High Commission in March 2024 are part of the probe into alleged narrative manipulation. Her now-deactivated Instagram account featured posts like “Ishq Lahore,” which investigators suspect may be part of a coordinated campaign to portray Pakistan in a favorable light.

The probe has widened to include potential collaborators, with Odisha Police investigating her ties to a Puri-based YouTuber she reportedly met in September 2024.

Malhotra has been booked under the Official Secrets Act and provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. She is currently on a five-day police remand, with further arrests not ruled out. The case has reignited concerns over how social media influencers may be exploited to serve foreign intelligence interests, as authorities dig deeper into what could be a broader espionage network.