Haryana-based YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, who was arrested on charges of spying for Pakistan reportedly revealed sensitive information about India during Operation Sindoor to Pakistani Intelligence Operatives (PIOs). Malhotra was grilled by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Intelligence Bureau (IB) for her alleged links with PIOs on Tuesday. Jyoti Malhotra, 33, is among the 11 people who have been arrested so far for spying for Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Haryana Police has recovered the travel vlogger’s personal diary which contains detailed handwritten notes in both Hindi and English about her thoughts and travels, including her trips to Pakistan and how much “mohabbat” (love) she received from the neighbouring country’s “awaam” (masses).

Talking about how she wishes no difference would exist between the two countries, Jyoti wrote in her diary after returning from a Pakistan trip, “After completing a 10-day journey through Pakistan, today I return to my country, India. We don’t know how long the distances of borders will remain, but may the grievances of hearts disappear. We all belong to the same land, the same soil.”

In her diary, Jyoti praised the hospitality she received in Pakistan and expressed hope that more Indian Hindus could visit their ancestral sites there. She also expressed desire to reconnect with families separated during the 1947 Partition.

Jyoti was in regular touch with Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish

The Haryana police and the central investigating agencies probing Jyoti’s alleged connections with Pakistan have found that the YouTuber was in regular touch with Ehsan-ur-Rahim, alias Danish, an employee at the Pakistani High Commission in Delhi. She had been in touch with him from November 2023 till March 2025.

Hisar police spokesman Vikas Kumar said that Jyoti confessed to being in touch with Danish. Kumar said that Danish was developing Malhotra as “an asset”, adding that she was in touch with other YouTubers as well. She will be produced before a local court on Wednesday where police will seek an extension of her remand.

Danish is also allegedly associated with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). A day after her arrest, the Hisar police highlighted how Pakistani intel agencies were targeting social media influencers from India to paint a positive picture of the country and “push their narrative.” As per media reports, the duo had even travelled to Bali together.

According to the FIR, Jyoti grew close to Danish during her visit to Pakistan in 2023. Danish, who was expelled from India on May 13 after he was declared persona non grata, had allegedly introduced Jyoti to several Pakistani Intelligence Operatives (PIOs).

I have no regrets: Jyoti Malhotra

Despite the serious charges under the Official Secrets Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Malhotra appeared unfazed during questioning. “I have no regrets,” she reportedly told investigators. A senior official involved in the probe said, “Jyoti feels she did not commit any mistake. She believes what she did was justified.”

Officials have sent her three mobile phones, a laptop, along with two mobile phones of Harkirat Singh, IT in-charge of Haryana Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee, for forensic analysis.

Jyoti Malhotra had visited Kashmir’s Pahalgam in January this year, exactly three months before a terror attack claimed the lives of 26 innocent civilians on April 22. The 34-year-old social media influencer was arrested by Civil Lines Police in Haryana’s Hisar on May 17 on charges of spying for Pakistan under the guise of promoting cross-border travel content.

Jyoti’s Instagram account — which had 1.33 lakh subscribers — was blocked on Monday. Known for her YouTube channel Travel with Jo, she had built a strong following with over 3.77 lakh subscribers on YouTube and 1.32 lakh followers on Instagram.