A major espionage network involving six Indian nationals has been uncovered, with the arrest of Jyoti Malhotra, a Haryana-based travel blogger known for her YouTube channel “Travel with Jo,” among others. The accused have been charged with sharing sensitive information with Pakistani intelligence operatives and coordinating through encrypted digital platforms.
Authorities report that Jyoti Malhotra had traveled to Pakistan in 2023 using a visa acquired through commission agents. During her visit, she developed close ties with Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, an official at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. Danish, who has since been expelled from India and declared persona non grata on May 13, 2025, allegedly introduced her to several Pakistani intelligence operatives (PIOs).
Jyoti reportedly stayed in touch with these operatives through encrypted messaging applications like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Snapchat. One of the operatives, identified as Shakir alias Rana Shahbaz, was saved in her contacts under the alias “Jatt Randhawa.” She is alleged to have passed on location-sensitive information related to Indian territories and promoted pro-Pakistan content on her social media platforms. Investigations also reveal that she entered into an intimate relationship with one of the operatives and accompanied him on an overseas trip to Bali, Indonesia.
Additional arrests in the case include Yameen Mohd from Malerkotla, who played a crucial role in facilitating financial transactions and handling visa-related tasks on behalf of the Pakistani handlers. Devinder Singh Dhillon, a Sikh student from Kaithal, Haryana, was allegedly recruited during a religious pilgrimage to Pakistan; he is accused of recording and sending video footage of the Patiala cantonment to his Pakistani contacts. Another individual, Arman from Nuh, Haryana, is believed to have procured Indian SIM cards, transferred funds, and visited the Defence Expo 2025 as directed by Pakistani intelligence operatives, further aiding the espionage network’s operations within India.
Officials stated that the espionage ring targeted vulnerable individuals across religious and social lines, manipulating them through emotional connections, monetary gifts, and false promises of marriage. The network spanned both Haryana and Punjab, operating through a web of digital communication, financial incentives, and covert interactions with Pakistani intelligence personnel.
All accused have reportedly confessed to their involvement, and investigations are ongoing to identify additional links and prevent further breaches of national security.
