Haryana YouTuber arrested for spying for Pakistan

A 33-year-old Haryana-based travel YouTuber, Jyoti Malhotra alias Jyoti Rani, has been arrested on the charges of spying for Pakistan, police said on Saturday, May 17.

She was arrested from New Aggarsain Extension in Hisar for allegedly sharing military information with Pakistan and endangering the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India. She has been booked under the relevant sections of the Official Secrets Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

The Haryana police claim the YouTuber had come in contact with a Pakistan High Commission official, Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish. She had even applied for a Pakistani visa and visited the neighbouring country twice. During one of her visits, she met Rahim’s acquaintance



Ali Ahwan, who arranged for her stay and travel in the country.

In her confession, the Youtuber said that Ali Ahwan introduced her to Shakir and Rana Shahbaz. “In Pakistan, Ali Ahwan arranged a meeting with Pakistani security and intelligence officials and I met Shakir and Rana Shahbaz. I took Shakir’s mobile number and saved it in my phone under the name of ‘Jat Randhawa’ to avoid suspicion. Then I came back to India and remained in constant touch with all the above people through platforms like WhatsApp, Snapchat and Telegram and started exchanging anti-national information. I also met Rahim several times,” officials quoted Malhotra as having told the police.

She has been sent to police custody for five days.