Did YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra Have Unrestricted Access in Pakistan?

New Delhi, May 18 (NationPress) YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, who faced arrest for espionage in Hisar, Haryana, reportedly enjoyed unrestricted access across Pakistan.

Sources reveal that her interrogation indicated she roamed the neighboring nation without restrictions. Typically, Indian visitors to Pakistan are monitored by authorities and are limited to specific locations as per their visa terms.

However, Malhotra received VIP treatment, attributed to her connections with Danish, a Pakistan High Commission officer, and other intelligence personnel. She was also afforded protection by the local police.

Currently on a five-day police remand following her arrest, she participated in elite gatherings in Pakistan, mingling with high-ranking officials and intelligence agents.

During questioning by the Hisar Police, she admitted her activities. Malhotra has visited Kashmir on two occasions. Additionally, she traveled to Bali, Indonesia, with an intelligence officer and also made a trip to Nepal.

Allegations suggest that under the facade of creating YouTube content, she gathered intelligence on India for transmission to Pakistan.

On March 23, she attended an Iftar party at the Pakistani High Commission, where she shared a video of the event. Danish greeted her warmly, indicating a close relationship, and introduced her to his wife and other officials. Malhotra also interacted with Chinese representatives at the gathering, continuously lauding the event's organization. She even extended an invitation for Danish's wife to visit her in Hisar.

Reports state that Malhotra has traveled to numerous countries, including Pakistan, China, Nepal, Thailand, Bhutan, Dubai, and Indonesia. Her luxurious travels included first-class flights, lavish hotel stays, gourmet dining, and visits to jewelry stores.

She posted a picture of her first-class flight to Dubai on her social media.

Hisar Police sources indicate that Malhotra drew the attention of security agencies following her trip to China, immediately after her stay in Pakistan in April 2024. She spent around 12 days in Pakistan, then traveled to China in June, where she was seen in luxury vehicles and high-end retail stores, raising suspicions regarding her spending and intentions.

During her interrogation, she claimed to have launched a YouTube channel titled 'Travel with Joe' to discover Pakistan. She visited the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi for a visa, where she first met Danish and exchanged contact information.

Malhotra described Danish as very amiable, leading to regular phone conversations. In 2023, she received a 10-day visa to Pakistan, where Danish facilitated her meetings with Ali Ahwaan, who organized her travel and accommodations.

Ali introduced her to Pakistani intelligence officials, including Shakir and Rana Shahbaz, who are associated with the intelligence services. To prevent suspicion, she saved Shakir's contact under the name 'Jat Randhawa'.

Upon her return, she allegedly began collaborating with Pakistani intelligence, relaying information through platforms like WhatsApp, Snapchat, and Telegram. However, specifics regarding the details shared with Pakistan remain undisclosed.

Malhotra's actions had been under surveillance by Indian authorities for some time. Once concrete evidence was gathered, police executed a search at her residence on May 15 at 10 a.m.

They confiscated mobile phones belonging to her family, including her father and uncle, along with her laptop. Following this, Jyoti was taken to the station for questioning, but was released after interrogation at 9 p.m.

Her father, Harish Malhotra, stated that Jyoti claimed she was being framed.

"She insisted that she has done nothing wrong. Following a second call for interrogation on Friday morning, she returned home that night. After seizing all her belongings, the police took Jyoti back to the station, later revealing that she had been arrested."