Indian YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, known for her ‘Travel with JO’ channel, has been arrested in Haryana’s Hisar on suspicion of spying for Pakistan.

Islamabad / New Delhi:

Following the arrest of Indian YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra on espionage charges, Pakistani journalist Hira Batool has publicly come out in her support. Although she did not name Jyoti directly, Batool posted on Instagram:

“India has now started targeting its own people. India, stop useless action.”

Key Details:

• Jyoti Malhotra, known for her YouTube channel ‘Travel with Joe’, was arrested on May 16 from Hisar, Haryana.

• She is one of 12 individuals arrested in recent weeks from Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh for alleged ties to a Pakistan-based spy network.

• Jyoti is booked under the Official Secrets Act and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Background:

• Jyoti and Hira met in Pakistan in 2023 during Jyoti’s visit and publicly referred to each other as “sisters.”

• Hira featured in several of Jyoti’s vlogs shot in Pakistan, including visits to Lahore and the Attari-Wagah border.

Investigation Highlights:

• Intelligence agencies allege that Jyoti’s pro-Pakistan content received coordinated promotion by influencers across the border, including Hira Batool.

• Jyoti allegedly maintained contact with Pakistan High Commission official Ehsan-ur-Rahim (alias Danish) since 2023. He was expelled from India on May 13, 2025, for espionage.