There are news reports claiming that YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, arrested on charges of espionage for Pakistan was planning to tie the knot over there! Jyoti was in contact with a Pakistani intelligence officer named Ehsan-ur-Rahim, also known as Danish, and allegedly shared sensitive information with him. In a WhatsApp chat accessed by Indian media, Malhotra is believed to have told Danish: “Get me married in Pakistan.”
However, Hisar Superintendent of Police said they have not found any formal proof of the 33-year-old travel vlogger’s plans to tie the knot in Pakistan or change her religion. “We have not found any document which depicts that she wants to marry any PIOs or wants to change religion,” the SP said.
Jyoti Malhotra’s Police Custody Extended By 4 Days
Meanwhile, Hisar District Court on Thursday remanded Malhotra to four days of police custody after her arrest on charges of sharing sensitive information with a Pakistani national, allegedly associated with the Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
A resident of Haryana’s Hisar, Jyoti Malhotra gained popularity on social media through a YouTube channel “Travel with JO”. She was arrested on May 17 and booked under provisions of the Official Secrets Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita on charges of espionage.
Jyoti was among the 12 people arrested from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh over the past two weeks on suspicion of espionage, with investigators suspecting the presence of a Pakistan-linked spy network operating in north India.
Who is Danish? How was he developing Jyoti as an asset?
Jyoti was allegedly honeytrapped by a Pakistani High Commission staff named Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, who is allegedly associated with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). As per media reports, the duo had even travelled to Bali together.
According to the FIR, Jyoti grew close to Danish a staff member at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, 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).
“Danish was developing her as an asset. She was in touch with other YouTube influencers,” a Hisar police spokesperson said.
According to the police, Danish introduced Jyoti Malhotra to Ali Ahwan. Ahwan allegedly helped arrange her stay and connected her with Pakistani officials Shakir and Rana Shahbaz.
