Espionage case: Travel vlogger Jyoti Malhotra's Instagram account with 1.37 lakh followers taken down
PTC Web Desk: The Instagram account of Haryana-based travel vlogger Jyoti Malhotra, also known by her social media handle Jyoti Rani, who has been arrested on charges of espionage for allegedly leaking sensitive Indian military information to Pakistani intelligence operatives, has been taken down.
She was arrested on Saturday, just days after India’s Operation Sindoor, a retaliatory strike launched in response to the April 22 Pahalgam Terror Attack that claimed 26 lives.
On Monday, two days after her arrest, Jyoti Malhotra’s Instagram account (@travelwithjo1)—which had amassed 1.37 lakh followers—was taken down. The police suspect that the platform was used as a tool in her espionage activities.
Who is Jyoti Malhotra?
A 33-year-old travel influencer from Haryana, Jyoti Malhotra ran a YouTube channel titled "Travel With Jo", where she regularly posted travel content from both Indian and international destinations. Her Instagram bio portrayed her as a "Nomadic Leo Girl. Wanderer. Haryanvi Punjabi modern girl with old ideas." She was known for her love of bike riding and solo travel, and she had visited several countries including Pakistan, Bhutan, Indonesia, and China.
Investigators have revealed that she made two trips to Pakistan, the first one in 2023, using a visa facilitated by commission agents. During this trip, she came into contact with Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, an official at the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi. This meeting marked the beginning of her involvement in an espionage network allegedly run by Pakistani intelligence.
Following her return to India, she reportedly maintained contact with Pakistani handlers, providing them with classified details related to Indian Army movements and strategic locations. Her activities are now being investigated as part of a broader spy network operating across Haryana and Punjab.
Jyoti Malhotra's content from Pakistan drew the attention of Indian intelligence agencies. About two months ago, she posted multiple videos and Instagram reels from locations such as Lahore's Anarkali Bazaar, Katas Raj Temple, and a cross-country bus journey. One of her captions read "Ishq Lahore", and her videos included cultural comparisons, Pakistani food reviews, and depictions of daily life in the country.
Her second visit to Pakistan was allegedly sponsored by Rahim’s associate, Ali Ahwan, who hosted her during the trip. Investigators claim that Malhotra developed close and possibly romantic ties with at least one Pakistani operative, even accompanying him to Bali, Indonesia in 2024.
She also travelled to Kashmir in the same year, where she shared videos from Dal Lake and the Srinagar-Banihal railway route—locations now believed to be strategically sensitive.
- With inputs from agencies
