Jyoti Malhotra, a 33-year-old travel influencer originally from Hisar, Haryana has been arrested. It is alleged that she funneled sensitive information to an operative of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). In addition to her travel writing, Malhotra is known for her popular travel filmmaking on Youtube and Instagram. She’s garnered well over 377,000 subscribers on Youtube and 133k followers on Instagram.
Her trips have brought her to over a dozen countries including India, Bangladesh, China, Thailand, the UAE, and most recently Indonesia. According to authorities, her new travels to Pakistan present immediate and grave danger. In particular, they’re fearful of her trip planned for March 2025. Her exorbitant international travel has been questioned, particularly because her background does not lend itself to such expenses. Authorities in state and federal police investigations are now focusing on where her money came from.
Malhotra’s hometown of Hisar has been described as a key military command center, adding to the complexity of her arrest’s implications. Sustainable living image via Shutterstock In having her daily life dictated by her father and uncle, she allegedly makes no money except for her online interactions.
Allegations of Espionage
The police alleged that Malhotra’s close association with Ehsan-ur-Rehim, an international operative affiliated to ISI, poses serious threat. In 2023, when she applied for a visa, their first meeting took place at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. Following this initial encounter, Rahim allegedly facilitated Malhotra’s travel and accommodation in Pakistan and introduced her to a network that included not only Pakistani officials but individuals from Italy’s security apparatus.
Superintendent Sawan said that Malhotra had continued contact with Rahim from 2023 to 2025. This window aligned with India’s “Operation Sindoor,” a series of cross-border strikes that India claimed targeted terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan.
“We are analysing all her financial transactions … her travel details defy her known source of income,” – Superintendent Sawan
Border security authorities maintain that Jyoti Malhotra would not have had access to sensitive military data. Her interactions are nevertheless the biggest threat to her. Responding to his board’s criticism in remarks captured on video, Superintendent Sawan stressed the national security risk of these relationships.
“In the current context you cannot share information with your enemy,” – Superintendent Sawan
Concerns Over Influencer Culture
The case raises deeply disturbing issues over the role social media continues to play in today’s warfare and espionage. In a recent statement, Superintendent Sawan lamented the dangers posed to these young influencers. In an effort to chase views and likes they unwittingly put themselves in perilous situations without understanding the full scope of what could happen.
“Young people fall in such traps chasing views and likes, and they don’t understand what the national and international ramifications are,” – Superintendent Sawan
Specifically, our leaders have been alarmed at how this situation paints a picture of a new form of soft power, often seen in modern warfare. As social media influencers take on the role of main actors in narrative conversations, the dangers of their engagements are massive.
“Modern warfare isn’t just at the border — it also includes meeting with influencers and pushing their narrative and distorting their image through this soft power,” – Superintendent Sawan
Legal Proceedings and Implications
Jyoti Malhotra now they remain in police remand. Investigators for the U.K.’s Metropolitan police are currently pursuing at least three charges against her — violations of the Official Secrets Act. The police are conducting investigations against a number of other influencers. They can make similar alleged connections with Pakistani intelligence operatives.
Formal statements attributed to police officials declare that Malhotra “has committed a crime by endangering the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India.” Additionally, they reported that she was “carrying out suspicious activities and exchanging Indian intelligence information with a citizen of enemy country Pakistan,” who has been declared persona-non-grata by India on charges of espionage.
As investigations develop, the reach of this action could go far beyond Malhotra herself. Regulators are particularly alarmed at the risk that other influencers might be manipulated by foreign intelligence operations. This is part of a growing national security concern in our social media–driven society.
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