Haryana-based YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, arrested on espionage charges, has reportedly confessed to maintaining regular contact with a Pakistani High Commission staffer, identified as Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, between November 2023 and March 2025. This startling revelation emerged during a multi-agency probe involving the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Intelligence Bureau (IB).
Key Developments:
- Sensitive Leaks During Operation Sindoor:
Investigators claim Malhotra passed on sensitive military information, including details of blackouts imposed during Operation Sindoor — India’s retaliatory strike against terror infrastructure in Pakistan — to Pakistani Intelligence Operatives (PIOs). - Connection to Pakistani Officials:
Malhotra is said to have frequently met Danish at the Pakistani High Commission in Delhi, where he reportedly began developing her as an “asset”. She was later introduced to Ali Ahwan, who facilitated her stay in Pakistan and arranged meetings with Islamabad’s security officials. Even after her return to India, she allegedly remained in contact with them. - Trips Abroad Under Scanner:
Her visits to Pakistan, including a trip just before the Pahalgam terror attack, and travel to China, are being investigated. These foreign links are seen as potentially significant in a broader network of espionage activities. - Digital Forensic Probe Initiated:
Authorities have seized:- Three mobile phones and a laptop belonging to Malhotra.
- Two phones of Harkirat Singh, an IT in-charge at the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, also under scrutiny.
All devices have been sent for forensic analysis.
- Financial Investigations Ongoing:
Malhotra reportedly holds multiple bank accounts with suspicious transactions, which are now being examined for possible links to foreign funding. - Legal Action and Diplomatic Fallout:
Danish has been declared persona non grata by the Indian government and will be expelled. Malhotra is expected to be produced before a local court on Wednesday, where police will seek an extension of her remand. - Wider Spy Ring Unearthed:
Her arrest is part of a widening probe into Pakistan’s espionage network in India, which has led to the arrest of 11 others in the past two weeks.
Implications:
This case points to a serious breach of national security, especially given its links to a sensitive military operation like Operation Sindoor. The use of civilian platforms and influencers by foreign intelligence agencies underscores the evolving nature of modern espionage, leveraging digital reach and disinformation.
The investigations continue to unfold, with more arrests and revelations likely in the coming days.
