In a dramatic unfolding of espionage within India’s borders, travel YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, also known by her channel name ‘Travel with Jo’, has been arrested for allegedly spying for Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
The 33-year-old woman from Hisar, Haryana, is at the center of a growing spy ring probe involving cross-border handlers, covert meetings, coded chats, and foreign transactions.
One WhatsApp exchange between Malhotra and her alleged ISI handler, Ali Hasan, has caught particular attention:
“Get me married in Pakistan.”
This line, investigators believe, reflects not only emotional entanglement but also deep ideological or operational commitment to her Pakistani contacts. Officials confirmed multiple coded conversations between the two, reportedly involving sensitive details about Indian Army movements and potential undercover operations.
Authorities uncovered four bank accounts linked to Malhotra, one of which received foreign transfers from Dubai. Investigators suspect these could be payments for intelligence leaks.
Further revelations include:
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Two visits to Pakistan by Malhotra under the pretext of video shoots
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Her introduction to ISI operatives by a Pakistani official, Rahim, at the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi
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Her father’s changing testimony, initially citing a trip to Delhi, not Pakistan
Malhotra’s arrest comes amid a sweeping intelligence operation against a suspected espionage network working on behalf of Pakistan. In just one week:
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Over a dozen individuals have been detained
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Arrests span Haryana, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh
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Suspects include a student, security guard, and businessman
This crackdown follows heightened India-Pakistan tensions, especially after Islamabad and Beijing agreed to extend the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to Afghanistan, which India has staunchly opposed.
This case raises serious concerns about:
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Pakistan’s evolving espionage strategy—leveraging civilians, influencers, and social media figures
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The role of soft targets, such as vloggers and content creators, in bypassing conventional surveillance
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The intersections between ideology, emotional manipulation, and intelligence gathering
