Police uncover a spying ring involving six people operating across Haryana and Punjab
CHANDIGARH — Haryana Police have uncovered a spy network involving six people allegedly involved in passing on sensitive Indian information to Pakistani agents. Among those arrested is a Hisar-based YouTuber and travel blogger, who ran a popular YouTube channel under the name Travel with Jo.
According to the police, Malhotra had travelled to Pakistan in 2023 on a visa arranged through agents. While in Pakistan, she met a man named Ehsan-ur-Rahim, also known as Danish, who was working at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.
“Danish was later declared ‘persona non grata’ by the Indian government and was expelled from the country on 13 May 2025,” a senior police official in Hisar told reporters on Friday.
Police sources said Danish introduced Malhotra to several agents working for Pakistani intelligence. She allegedly stayed in contact with them through encrypted apps such as WhatsApp, Telegram, and Snapchat.
“One of the Pakistani agents, Shakir, who also goes by the name Rana Shahbaz, was saved in her phone contacts as ‘Jatt Randhawa’,” said a police investigator involved in the case.
Investigators claim that Malhotra shared photos, videos, and details of sensitive locations in India with her Pakistani handlers. She also reportedly tried to boost Pakistan’s image on social media through her online platforms.
“She was not just passing information but was also involved in presenting Pakistan in a positive light online, which we consider part of a broader psychological operation,” the officer added.
The espionage network came to light after sustained surveillance and interrogation. Apart from Jyoti Malhotra, the police have arrested Ghazala, Yamin Mohammad, Devendra Singh Dhillon, and Arman. All of them are Indian citizens, and police suspect they were recruited for different roles within the spying network.
A senior police officer confirmed, “A written confession has been obtained from Jyoti Malhotra. The charges filed include Section 152 of the Indian Penal Code (BNS) and Sections 3, 4, and 5 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923.”
The case has been handed over to the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Hisar for further investigation.
“We are examining whether any money was exchanged in return for the information shared. We are also looking into the role of overseas visits, including a trip to Bali, Indonesia, which Malhotra undertook recently,” the officer said.
It is believed that Danish, the expelled Pakistani official, played a key role in connecting Indian nationals to handlers in Pakistan. Police said Malhotra continued to communicate with Danish even after returning to Delhi.
“She maintained close contact with Danish while living in Delhi. This contact was frequent and involved sharing media files and location updates,” the investigator stated.
The police have not ruled out more arrests in the coming days, as the operation appears to be part of a wider spying effort by Pakistan in northern India, particularly targeting border states.
Local residents expressed shock over the arrest of Malhotra, who was seen by many as an ordinary travel enthusiast.
“I have followed her YouTube channel for years. She seemed like a normal girl who loved travelling. We never thought she would be involved in something like this,” said Neeraj Mehta, a follower from Rohtak.
Security experts say such cases highlight the growing trend of using social media influencers and ordinary citizens for espionage purposes.
“It’s alarming how enemy agencies are using social platforms and common people to gain intelligence. This is a serious national security concern,” said Major (Retd) S. P. Sharma, a defence analyst based in Chandigarh.
The police have issued a warning to the public about the dangers of online communication with strangers, especially those connected with diplomatic missions or foreign countries.
“People need to be alert. The internet is being misused for spying, and we advise citizens not to get lured by promises of travel or money in return for sending seemingly harmless videos or photos,” said a police spokesperson.
Authorities are now focusing on uncovering how deep the espionage ring goes and whether more such networks are active in other Indian states.
The accused are currently in police custody and will be presented in court next week.
