Claim:
A viral claim on social media and multiple news outlets reports that Jyoti Malhotra, a Hisar-based YouTuber and travel vlogger, was arrested for allegedly spying for Pakistan and sharing sensitive information with Pakistani intelligence agents.
Fact Check:
True.
The claim is accurate. Haryana Police have arrested Jyoti Malhotra, a resident of Hisar and a YouTuber who runs the channel Travel with Jo, on charges of espionage. She has been accused of sharing sensitive information with Pakistan’s intelligence operatives and maintaining contact with individuals blacklisted by the Indian government.
What We Found:
- Official Confirmation: Hisar Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kamaljeet confirmed that Jyoti Malhotra was arrested from her residence in New Agarsain Extension after an investigation by the local Crime Investigation Agency (CIA), based on intelligence inputs from central agencies.
- Court Proceedings: She was produced in court on Saturday and has been remanded to five days of police custody.
- Pakistan Connections:
According to the FIR filed at Hisar Civil Lines Police Station, Jyoti made two trips to Pakistan in 2023, during which she allegedly established contacts with Pakistani intelligence officials.- She initially met Ahsan-Ur-Rahim (alias Danish) at the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi while applying for a visa.
- During her visits to Pakistan, she reportedly stayed under arrangements made by Ali Ahwan, who facilitated her meetings with Pakistani intelligence personnel.
- She also allegedly met Shakir and Rana Shahbaz, whose contact information she saved under false names to avoid detection.
- Espionage & Communication:
After returning to India, she is believed to have continued her communication with Pakistani agents via WhatsApp, Snapchat, and Telegram, sharing sensitive and potentially classified information that posed a risk to national security. - High-Profile Contact:
One of her key contacts, Ahsan-Ur-Rahim, was declared persona non grata by the Indian government on May 13, 2024, for espionage-related activities. Jyoti’s continued communication with him after this blacklisting forms a crucial part of the investigation. - Legal Charges:
Jyoti Malhotra has been booked under:- Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023
- Sections 3, 4, and 5 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923, which relate to:
- Activities prejudicial to state security,
- Unlawful communication with foreign agents,
- Unauthorized handling of official secrets.
Inspector Nirmala has been assigned as the lead investigator on the case.
Verdict:
True — Jyoti Malhotra, a travel vlogger from Hisar, has indeed been arrested on charges of spying for Pakistan. The arrest is backed by an official FIR, multiple media confirmations, and statements from police officials. The case is under further investigation.