Travel Vlogger’s Arrest Sparks Debate Over India’s Oversight of Cross-Border Travel Amid Espionage Concerns
New Delhi, May 19, 2025 – The recent arrest of Hisar-based YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra on charges of spying for Pakistani intelligence operatives has ignited a heated debate over the Indian government’s monitoring of individuals traveling to adversarial nations like Pakistan and China. Malhotra, a 33-year-old travel vlogger who runs the YouTube channel "Travel with JO" with over 377,000 subscribers, was detained on May 16, 2025, following revelations of her frequent trips to Pakistan—including one just before the deadly Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025—and China.
Malhotra’s arrest under Sections 3, 4, and 5 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923, and Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) has raised questions about how she was permitted to travel so freely despite her alleged connections to Pakistani intelligence operatives (PIOs). According to a Hindustan Times report, Malhotra had been in contact with Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, a Pakistani official at the High Commission in Delhi, whom she met in 2023 while seeking a visa. Danish, declared persona non grata by India on May 13, 2025, for engaging in activities inconsistent with his diplomatic status, reportedly introduced her to other operatives, including Shakir alias Rana Shahbaz. She allegedly maintained communication with these individuals through encrypted apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Snapchat, even after returning to India.
The timing of Malhotra’s travels has drawn particular scrutiny. One of her trips to Pakistan occurred shortly before the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 civilian lives, mostly Hindu tourists, in the Baisaran Valley meadow of Jammu and Kashmir. The attack, attributed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), was followed by a surge in demand for high-resolution satellite imagery of the Pahalgam area two months prior, as reported by ThePrint, suggesting premeditated planning. Malhotra’s visits to China, a country with ongoing geopolitical tensions with India, have further fueled concerns about her intentions and the government’s oversight mechanisms.
Hisar Superintendent of Police (SP) Shashank Kumar Sawan revealed during a press conference on May 18 that Malhotra was being groomed by PIOs to serve as a long-term asset, potentially to promote “soft narratives” favorable to Pakistan through her social media platform. While she did not have direct access to military intelligence, her interactions with high-profile individuals in Pakistan and her network of Indian contacts—who may have facilitated her travels—are under investigation. Authorities are also probing her financial transactions, as her known income does not align with the frequency and cost of her international trips, raising suspicions of external funding.
The case has broader implications amid escalating India-Pakistan tensions. Just weeks before the Pahalgam attack, India secured the extradition of Tahawwur Rana, a Pakistani-Canadian terrorist linked to the 2008 Mumbai attacks, from the United States on April 9, 2025. In response to the Pahalgam attack, India launched Operation Sindoor, striking targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, an operation that Pakistan claimed resulted in civilian casualties. Malhotra’s arrest is part of a wider crackdown on espionage networks, with other individuals, including Devender Singh from Kaithal and Nauman Ilahi from Shamli, also detained on similar charges in recent weeks.
Odisha Police have joined the investigation after discovering Malhotra’s links to a Puri-based YouTuber who had visited Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan in September 2024, probing whether sensitive information was exchanged during their meeting. Haryana Director General of Police (DGP) Shatrujeet Kapur emphasized that Operation Sindoor has identified several “anti-national elements” across the state, with efforts underway to build a robust case against Malhotra and others involved.
Malhotra’s family has denied the allegations, claiming they are part of a conspiracy to defame her. However, the case has spotlighted the challenges of monitoring cross-border travel and the potential misuse of social media platforms for espionage in an era of heightened national security threats. As investigations deepen, the government faces increasing pressure to address gaps in its oversight mechanisms, particularly concerning individuals with potential ties to foreign intelligence networks.
