From Iftar to Espionage: Jyoti Malhotra’s Pakistan High Commission Connections Exposed by Her Own Video

Jyoti Malhotra, a 33-year-old travel vlogger from Hisar, Haryana, known for her YouTube channel Travel With Jo, was arrested on 17 May 2025 for allegedly spying for Pakistan. A video she posted from an Iftar dinner at the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi in March 2024 became pivotal evidence, revealing her ties to Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, a Pakistani official expelled for espionage. Her frequent trips to Pakistan and encrypted communications with intelligence operatives unraveled her covert activities, shocking her 377,000 subscribers.

The Incriminating Video
The 15-minute video, uploaded on 30 March 2024, shows Malhotra at the Pakistan High Commission’s Iftar party, gushing about the “superb” arrangements and expressing eagerness to visit Pakistan. She warmly greets Danish, indicating prior acquaintance, and interacts comfortably with his wife. Danish introduces her as a YouTuber with “over 100k subscribers,” suggesting familiarity. The clip, initially a promotional vlog, exposed her connections when investigators linked Danish to espionage, leading to his expulsion on 13 May 2025.

Jyoti Malhotra was converted to Islam

By the wife of her Pakistani boyfriend.

Jyoti even met her boyfriend's wife.

Some are saying she is married to Danish and was on her honeymoon with him in Bali.

Jyoti is now a Muslim. pic.twitter.com/c4jMj6mn6B

— Yanika_Lit (@LogicLitLatte) May 17, 2025

Building Ties with Pakistani Operatives
Malhotra’s interactions with Danish began in 2023 during a visa application visit to the High Commission. She traveled to Pakistan at least twice, meeting operatives like Ali Ahwan, who arranged her stay and introduced her to intelligence officials, including Shakir alias Rana Shahbaz, whose number she saved as “Jatt Randhawa” to avoid suspicion. Using WhatsApp, Telegram, and Snapchat, she allegedly shared sensitive Indian military information, violating the Official Secrets Act. Her vlogs, portraying Pakistan positively, were part of a coordinated effort to project a favorable image.

Investigation and Arrest
Haryana Police, acting on intelligence, arrested Malhotra in Hisar, charging her under Sections 3, 4, and 5 of the Official Secrets Act and Section 152 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Her devices, now under forensic analysis, revealed “suspicious material.” DSP Kamaljit Singh confirmed she confessed to maintaining contact with Pakistani handlers, including an intimate relationship with one operative, with whom she traveled to Bali. The probe, part of a larger espionage crackdown, continues to uncover the network’s extent.

Public and National Impact
Malhotra’s arrest, amid heightened India-Pakistan tensions post-Operation Sindoor, has sparked outrage. Her vlogs, once seen as cultural bridges, are now viewed as a cover for espionage, prompting scrutiny of social media influencers. The case highlights vulnerabilities in cross-border exchanges, urging tighter security measures as India grapples with espionage threats disguised as cultural diplomacy.