Jyoti Malhotra Had 'Close Relationship' With Pakistani Intelligence Officer, Travelled To Bali With Him

Investigating officials said WhatsApp chats recovered from her device revealed that the YouTuber had a "close relationship" with a Pakistani intelligence officer and even travelled to Bali with him.

File photo of Haryana YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra.

Source : Youtube/Travel with Jo

Haryana YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra has been arrested for allegedly sharing sensitive information and maintaining contact with Pakistani intelligence agencies.

Malhotra, who is from Hisar, was arrested on the charge of passing on sensitive information to Pakistani intelligence operatives on Friday.

Now the police have revealed a fresh development in the case after seizing Malhotra's phone and scanning her WhatsApp chats.

Investigating officials said WhatsApp chats recovered from her device revealed that the YouTuber had a "close relationship" with a Pakistani intelligence officer and even travelled to Bali with him.

Jyoti, whose YouTube channel and Instagram account have 3.77 lakh subscribers and 1.33 lakh followers respectively, allegedly was in contact with a Pakistani staffer working at the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi. She also visited Pakistan, during which she came into contact with a Pakistani intelligence officer. On May 13, India had expelled that Pakistani official for allegedly indulging in espionage.

Hisar Superintendent of Police Shashank Kumar Sawan said Malhotra was in contact with the PIOs during the Indo-Pak conflict but clarified she did not have direct access to critical military or defence-related information.

According to the investigation, Malhotra maintained frequent contact with an individual named Noman, whose contact was saved as 'Jat Randhawa' to avoid suspicion. Noman is allegedly an operative of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). 

The officials also said that Jyoti Malhotra remained in touch with PIOs (public information officers). She was in touch with a Pakistani officer at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi during Operation Sindoor, the official said.

The sleuths have said that her chats not only confirmed the YouTuber's Bali trip but also revealed her deep links with multiple ISI officials.

The Police also said that Jyoti Malhotra was being developed as an asset by Pakistani intelligence officers.

Hisar's Superintendent of Police Shashank Kumar Sawan said, “They were developing her (Jyoti Malhotra) as an asset. She was in touch with other YouTube influencers, and they were also in touch with the PIOs… She used to go to Pakistan, like on sponsored trips… She was in Pakistan before the Pahalgam attack, and the investigation is on to establish linkages, if there are any. We are also investigating, as we have leads that other people were also involved with her.”