The North News
Chandigarh, May 19
With a pleasant smile, engaging travel content, and thousands of followers, Jyoti Malhotra projected the image of a harmless social media influencer. But behind her digital persona, the Police say , was a far more sinister reality—one allegedly entwined with cross-border espionage, terror networks, and a deadly attack that rocked Jammu and Kashmir earlier this year. She visited Pakistan in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and developed a close association with Danish, revealed the Police sources.
Malhotra, a travel vlogger based in Hisar, Haryana, has been arrested by state police under serious charges of spying. Since her remand began, officials say, a trail of unsettling disclosures has surfaced. Investigators now believe Malhotra was in Pakistan shortly before the Pahalgam terrorist attack in April 2025, in which 26 civilians were killed—targeted, officials say, based on their religious identity. She is also reported to have visited Pahalgam before the massacre, raising grave suspicions about the purpose of her presence.
The investigation has since expanded, uncovering that Malhotra also travelled to China under circumstances police describe as suspicious. Her frequent foreign trips, unusual for someone with modest declared income, have raised serious questions. “How could a relatively unknown YouTuber afford multiple international visits? Who was funding her travel?” asked Hisar Superintendent of Police, Shashank Kumar Sawan, at a press briefing.
The turning point in the case came with the identification of Ehsan-ur-Rahim, also known by the alias Danish, an alleged ISI agent operating under diplomatic cover at the Pakistani High Commission in India. The Police said that Danish entrapped Malhotra in a honey trap, enabling her foreign travel and facilitating a covert information exchange. Police believe he played a central role in activating Malhotra’s link to Pakistan’s intelligence apparatus.
“This was no ordinary travel blogger. She was being guided and supported by trained operatives, ” the Police said. The Police are now focusing on several key questions: Who financed Malhotra’s trips to Pakistan and China? Was she operating independently or part of a larger network? And was her social media identity used as a cover for surveillance or reconnaissance work?
“Her declared income doesn’t match her travel expenses,” Sawan added. “We suspect that she received funding from foreign sources, likely through channels linked to Pakistani intelligence.”
The case has triggered high-level concern within India’s national security agencies. Haryana Police are working in coordination with central intelligence units, examining her digital footprint, banking transactions, and social media communications. The Police are not ruling out the possibility of more individuals involved in the network.
What began as routine social media surveillance has now escalated into a full-fledged counter-espionage operation. Officials believe Malhotra may only be the visible part of a deeper intelligence network operating under the guise of digital influencers and content creators.
“She might be the face, but we are now looking into who’s pulling the strings behind her,” said one intelligence officer. As investigations deepen, the case serves as a chilling reminder of how espionage can wear a smile, speak in hashtags, and stream in high definition—while quietly threatening national security.However, Jyoti’s father has denied the allegation against her and claimed he was unaware of her visit to Pakistan or any other locations.
