New Delhi: As India intensifies its crackdown on espionage activities linked to Pakistan, new digital evidence has emerged in the high-profile case of Haryana-based YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, arrested last week for allegedly spying for Pakistan. Investigators say Malhotra maintained covert communications with Pakistani agents through encrypted platforms, adding a chilling new dimension to the case.
Encrypted Apps and a Web of Deception
According to officials cited by CNN-News18, Malhotra used multiple encrypted social media apps such as Snapchat, Telegram, and WhatsApp to stay in touch with her handlers in Pakistan. Authorities have now retrieved significant digital forensics from her devices, which point to deliberate efforts to mask her communication channels and activities.
“Her online persona as a YouTuber was just a facade,” a police source stated. “She maintained multiple devices and engaged in encrypted communication with Pakistani agents on a regular basis.”
Also Read: Did ‘Spy’ Jyoti Malhotra Fly Drone Over Puri Jagannath Temple During Odisha Visit?
Involvement of Embassy Official and Visa Facilitators
The investigation has also revealed her alleged connection to Pakistani embassy official Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, who reportedly became her primary contact after her initial visit to Pakistan in 2023. The link was allegedly established through Harkirat Singh, an employee of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, who facilitated her visa and travel.
Singh is also under investigation, and his devices have been seized for forensic examination.
Coded Contacts and Covert Pilgrimages
Malhotra reportedly traveled to Pakistan under the guise of joining Sikh religious jathas visiting gurdwaras such as Nankana Sahib. During her visits, she is believed to have met multiple Pakistani intelligence officials.
In a bid to avoid suspicion, she even saved her handler’s number under an Indian-sounding alias — “Jat Randhawa.” Another contact, Ali Ahwan, is said to have arranged security cover for her while she was in Pakistan.
Father Denies Knowledge, Contradicts Earlier Statements
Jyoti Malhotra’s father, Harish Malhotra, spoke to ANI on Monday, stating he had no idea about his daughter’s social media activity or her visits to Pakistan.
“She used to tell me she was going to Delhi,” he said, distancing himself from previous remarks where he claimed she had gone to Pakistan to make videos. “She never told me anything,” he added, claiming she typically filmed content at home.
More Arrests Follow: Expanding Espionage Network Unravelling
The Malhotra case appears to be part of a larger pattern. Shortly after her arrest, another Haryana resident, Armaan, was taken into custody for allegedly sharing sensitive information via WhatsApp.
In a related development, Kaithal police arrested 25-year-old Devendra Singh, a postgraduate student from Patiala, for suspected espionage. According to Kaithal SP Astha Modi, Singh traveled to Pakistan in November 2024 and maintained constant contact with four Pakistani intelligence agents, including one woman.
Singh is accused of filming near a military cantonment in Patiala and sharing the footage with his handlers. Two electronic devices seized from his home have yielded over 300 GB of recoverable data, now under cyber forensic analysis. Authorities are also examining his bank transactions for potential financial links to Pakistan.
NIA Joins Investigation, More Revelations Expected
With the National Investigation Agency (NIA) now aiding the Haryana Police, officials suggest that the case could widen significantly. Investigators are piecing together a network of digital espionage, exploiting religious travel, online anonymity, and encrypted technology to funnel sensitive information across borders.
As the probe deepens, law enforcement agencies remain tight-lipped about upcoming leads but confirm that further arrests and charges may follow.
