In a shocking twist that has run through India’s security establishment, YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra admitted to being in regular touch with an official of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. Officials said on Tuesday that Malhotra, in her interrogation, admitted to having been in touch with Ehsan-ur-Rahim, alias Danish, a Pakistani official at the High Commission, from November 2023 to March 2025.
Police believe Danish actively collaborated to groom Malhotra as an intelligence asset, which is a strong indicator of espionage activities masquerading as social media influence.
Several Devices of Jyoti Malhotra Seized for Forensic
Hisar Police spokesman Vikas Kumar disclosed, “She confessed to her direct communication with Danish during this period.” Malhotra was also in touch with a few other YouTube influencers, which suggests a potential wider network of influence.
Police have taken into custody Malhotra’s three mobile phones, laptop, and two phones of Harkirat Singh, IT in-charge of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC), for forensic analysis to find out the extent of these connections.
NIA and IB Conduct Aggressive Interrogation with Jyoti Malhotra
The interrogation involved central agencies such as the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Intelligence Bureau (IB), targeting Malhotra’s suspected connections to Pakistani Intelligence Operatives (PIOs). Based on a senior Hisar police official, who preferred anonymity, “She has multiple bank accounts, and there have been numerous transactions. Analyzing the financial data will take time.”
This financial probe is indicative of the extent of the investigation and the probable funding channels that could feed the espionage activities.
Far-reaching International Travels Under the Lens
The investigators are also analyzing Malhotra’s long history of international travel. According to records, she applied for her passport in 2018, which is current until 2028, and has traveled to nations such as Pakistan, China, Dubai, Thailand, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and Indonesia.
These trips present a key part of the jigsaw puzzle, potentially connecting her movements with intelligence collection and communication.
Legal Cases and Broader Spy Network
At present, police intend to bring Jyoti Malhotra in front of a local court on Wednesday to request an extension of her remand for further interrogation. Malhotra’s arrest is all part of a larger crackdown on a Pakistan-based spy ring in northern India, with 12 people being arrested over the past fortnight in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.
