The North News
Chandigarh, May 17
In Ek Tha Tiger, a Bollywood spy thriller, an Indian agent falls for a Pakistani intelligence operative — a woman whose charm conceals a dangerous secret. That story was fiction. But in the heart of Haryana, a real-life case is now unfolding — one that bears eerie similarities to the screen. A young woman, popular on YouTube for her travel videos, is facing serious allegations: espionage, secret meetings, and connections with Pakistan’s powerful spy agency.
Jyoti Rani, who runs a YouTube channel called “Travel with Jo”, has been arrested by Haryana Police for allegedly establishing contact with agents of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and sharing sensitive information after multiple visits to the country.
Haryana Police say Rani first visited the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi in 2023 to apply for a travel visa. There, she met a man identified as Ahsan-ur-Rahim, also known by the alias Danish, whose name appears in Indian intelligence dossiers. What began as a casual acquaintance reportedly deepened into regular contact.
She soon travelled to Pakistan — not once, but twice — allegedly meeting Ali Awan, who helped arrange her itinerary. Police claim that through Awan, she was introduced to Pakistani intelligence officials, including two individuals named Shakir and Rana Shahbaz.
In one instance, she is said to have saved Shakir’s number under the fake name Jatt Randhawa in her phone — a tactic, police say, to hide her communications from prying eyes.
Upon her return to India, Rani allegedly stayed in contact with her handlers through encrypted platforms such as WhatsApp, Telegram, and Snapchat. She also continued visiting the Pakistan High Commission, maintaining ties with Rahim, who, officials say, has been declared persona non grata by India on charges of espionage.
In a detailed statement, the police said that “Jyoti Rani, daughter of Harish Kumar, a resident of Hisar, engaged in suspicious activities with Pakistani nationals declared hostile to India. By sharing strategic information, she posed a direct threat to the sovereignty and unity of the country.” The investigation is ongoing.
