From ‘weak border' to ‘full of love': What YouTuber turned 'spy' Jyoti Malhotra's diary reveals about Pakistan
In the heart of a widening
espionage probe
, YouTuber
Jyoti Malhotra
's handwritten diary entries speak of an entirely different journey—one steeped in sentiment and glowing admiration for Pakistan.
'This journey from Pakistan was full of love. We got a lot of love from the subscribers and the field,' she wrote in a page retrieved by the
Haryana Police
.
In another entry, she noted her emotional response while crossing the Wagah border. 'On the
Wagah border
, I was emotional. The fences of the border seemed weak. The people who meet despite borders are those whose hearts beat in sync. This soil belongs to both.'
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Describing Lahore as vibrant and welcoming, she added: 'To reach Lahore, got 20 rupees for the rickshaw fare... Pakistan's roads and buildings—No matter how much you talk, the lesser said, the better. [They are] a little crazy, colourful.'
She made a direct appeal to Pakistani authorities: 'Educate the Muslims that Hindu brothers should not feel unsafe. If they come to visit, protect the temples there. And they should be able to meet their families like during the 1947 partition. We must come again via Lahore-Wagah road.'
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The diary, recovered during police searches, is now being used to understand Malhotra's motivations, state of mind, and the apparent contradiction between her emotional accounts and the serious charges she faces.
Who is Jyoti Malhotra?
Jyoti Malhotra, 33, who ran the YouTube channel
Travel with Jo
, was arrested on 16 May. She is accused of being part of a spy ring with links to Pakistan's intelligence network.
Officials say she maintained regular contact with three Pakistani operatives, and her initial link began with Ehsan-ur-Rahim, alias Danish, a staffer at the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi. The two reportedly met in 2023 when Malhotra applied for a visa.
According to Hisar Superintendent of Police Shashank Sawan, 'This is modern warfare that is not just fought on the borders. We came across a new modus operandi wherein PIOs were trying to recruit some social media influencers.'
Police claim Danish not only helped arrange her Pakistani visa and accommodation in Lahore, but also introduced her to other operatives—Shakir and Rana Shahbaz. One of them, Shakir, was saved in Malhotra's phone contacts under the alias "Jatt Randhawa".
Encrypted chats, multiple accounts, and foreign trips
Investigators allege Malhotra used encrypted apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Snapchat to communicate with her handlers. Her devices, now undergoing forensic analysis, are expected to reveal further details.
Authorities are also looking into her multiple bank accounts. These financial transactions, along with her international trips, especially to Pakistan and reportedly to Bali with a Pakistani official, are being scrutinised. Police claim her known sources of income could not explain the cost of her foreign travel.
The FIR against her mentions her participation in a wider network, extending across Punjab and Haryana. Others arrested include Nauman Elahi, Devender Singh Dhillon, and a youth named Arman from Nuh. Arman is accused of providing Indian SIM cards to Pakistani contacts and sharing restricted material under the guise of seeking employment at a defence expo.
The Intelligence Bureau and the National Investigation Agency are now leading the investigation into what officials describe as a 'deliberate campaign' to cultivate influencers as intelligence assets.
Malhotra's arrest comes amid heightened
national security concerns
. Her visit to Pakistan in 2023 and her trip to Kashmir before the Pahalgam attack on 22 April have raised red flags.
Police say they are probing links between these travels and possible coordination or prior knowledge of the attack. Notably, she returned from Pakistan just days before a national-level security drill, Operation Sindoor, took place on 7 May.
Her diary, discovered by Haryana Police, offers insight into her mindset. In one entry, she wrote: 'Today, I have returned to my country, India, after a 10-day trip from Pakistan. During this time, I received a lot of love from the people of Pakistan. Our subscribers and friends also came to meet us. The two days we got to visit Lahore were not enough.'
The diary paints a stark contrast to the narrative officials are piecing together. Malhotra is currently being questioned, and her digital life is under the microscope as the investigation continues.
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