Jyothi Malhotra arrested over spying for Pakistan had visited Kannur, Alappuzha, Kochi

NEW DELHI: A YouTuber was arrested the other day for sharing sensitive information with Pakistan. Jyoti Malhotra alias Jyoti Rani (33) of Hisar in Haryana, who runs the YouTube channel ‘Travel with Jo’, was arrested. Six including Jyoti, were arrested from different parts of the country in connection with espionage. Jyoti was sent to five-day police custody for endangering the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India.

Most of the videos of Jyoti, who was arrested for sharing sensitive information with Pakistani intelligence agencies, are from Pakistan. A total of 487 videos are on her page ‘Travel with Jo’. Most of the videos are from Pakistan, Thailand and Bangladesh.

Jyoti had visited many places in India, including Kerala. Jyoti has even pinned pictures from Kerala on her Instagram page. She had visited Kochi, Munnar and Alappuzha. Jyoti's Instagram page has a video of her watching Theyyam in Kannur in Kerala sari.

Jyoti leaked crucial information through Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, an officer of the Pakistan High Commission expelled by India. Rahim was ordered to leave the country immediately on Wednesday, for leaking sensitive information, including the movement of the Indian army.

Jyoti met Rahim at the High Commission in Delhi when she went for a visa to visit Pakistan in 2023. Accommodation in Pakistan was arranged via Rahim's acquaintance Ali Ahwan. She visited Pakistan again. Through Ali Ahwan, she met Pakistani security and intelligence officials Shakir and Rana Shahbaz.

Jyoti saved Shakir's mobile number under the name 'Jat Randhawa' to avoid suspicion. After arriving in India, she was in constant contact with Pakistani officials through platforms like WhatsApp, Snapchat, and Telegram. She exchanged anti-national information. During this time, Jyoti admitted to the police that she met Rahim several times.