YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra Was In Contact With 4 Pakistani Intelligence Operatives: Reports

News18

6 days ago

Last Updated:
Forensic analysis revealed that YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra was in direct contact with at least four Pakistani intelligence operatives, and was fully aware of their roles.
Arrested YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra was reportedly in contact with at least four Pakistani operatives, knowing their individual positions and considerable influence and links to intelligence networks.
As she was remanded to an extended judicial custody on May 26, the police said they had recovered nearly 12 terabytes (TB) of data from Jyoti Malhotra's phones and laptops.
The barrage of data is in the form of videos, photos, her chat records, transaction details, and more.
A report with the Hindustan Times claims that, as per the forensic report in connection with Jyoti Malhotra's case, she was in direct contact with at least four Pakistani intelligence operatives, who aided her with special treatment during her trip to the neighbouring country.
The entire barrage of data was yet to be examined, and the police did not reveal the names of the four Pakistani operatives said to be in touch with Jyoti Malhotra.
Other reports suggested that Jyoti Malhotra's chat records revealed she used to communicate with everyone personally and had no involvement in any groups, suggesting an effort to keep her conversations secret.
A Haryana court on May 26 remanded Jyoti Malhotra to judicial custody after the end of her police remand in a case of alleged espionage.
The 33-year-old travel influencer was produced in court. A police spokesperson said that they did not seek her further remand, after which the court sent her to jail.
Jyoti Malhotra was among the 12 people arrested from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh over the past three weeks on suspicion of espionage, with investigators suspecting the presence of a Pakistan-linked spy network operating in northern India.
The Hisar native ran a YouTube channel — 'Travel with JO". She was arrested at the New Aggarsain Extension on May 17 and was booked under provisions of the Official Secrets Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Amid investigations, the Hisar Police said they had no evidence to indicate that Jyoti Malhotra had access to any military or defence-related information. But she was definitely in contact with some people, knowing that they were Pakistani intelligence operatives, they said.
Police sources had said she was in touch with Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, a staffer at the Pakistani High Commission, since November 2023, and also during India's 'Operation Sindoor'
India expelled Danish on May 13 for allegedly indulging in espionage.
The National Investigation Agency, the Intelligence Bureau, and military intelligence officials have also questioned Jyoti Malhotra.
Investigations have revealed that she visited Pakistan, China, Bangladesh, and some other countries.