Jyoti Malhotra in Pakistan: VVIP Treatment, High-Profile Security that Caught Police Eyes

Manas Dasgupta

NEW DELHI, May 27: It is no wonder that the Haryana YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, who has been arrested for spying for Pakistan, was provided VVIP treatment and high security whenever she visited the neighbouring country because she was well connected with some high officials in the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Pakistan’s notorious spy agency,

Some data recovered from the laptop seized from her showed that she knew that the Pakistani officials she was in touch with worked with the ISI but she had no fear. This has come to light during Haryana Police’s examination of the digital devices of the 33-year-old YouTuber.

A two-month-old video uploaded by Jyoti Malhotra purportedly showed that she was provided high security during her visit to the neighbouring country. Not only was she provided high security, but officials even blocked traffic movement for her convenience, as a viral video showed. She was seen surrounded by guards who were armed with AK-47s, who followed her wherever she went.

On her way to Valmiki Mandir in Pakistan’s Lahore, Malhotra was seen interacting with a security official, who was heard saying, “A special door at Shahi Qila (Lahore Fort) was opened for you. It is the oldest door there. Now that you are here, do visit Anarkali Bazar (also in Lahore).

As Malhotra made her way toward the Valmiki Temple, a visible security presence lined the street, with personnel dressed in green and black jackets. Some were seen restricting movement at the far end of the road, which Malhotra described as a “chakka jam.” Traffic came to a halt as she crossed the road.

Interestingly, some of these guards with ‘No Fear’ jackets were also visible in Scottish YouTuber Callum Mill’s video where he was surprised to see an armed security detail surrounding Malhotra at Anarkali Bazar. “Look at all the guns she has got surrounding her. There’s about six gunmen surrounding her,” he further said, expressing concern that such heavy security made the area look unsafe.

Scottish YouTuber Callum Mill, whose YouTube channel is called Callum Abroad, visiting Pakistan ran into her at Lahore’s Anarkali Bazar and was shocked to see the security. Mill visited Pakistan in March. A video he shot during a visit to Anarkali Bazar shows several people armed with guns and wearing jackets with “No Fear” written on them. Then Jyoti Malhotra, also recording the video, appears. Callum introduces himself as a Scottish YouTuber. Jyoti asks him if it was his first visit to Pakistan. To this, Callum replies, “No, five times.” She also asks him if he has been to India and introduces herself as India. When Callum asks what she thinks about Pakistan’s hospitality, Jyoti replies, “It’s great.”

As Jyoti walks on, Callum realises the armed men are with her. “She’s the one with the guys, with all the security. I don’t know why, what’s the need for all the guns? Look at all the guns she has got surrounding her. There are six gunmen surrounding her,” he says. Some other people, also looking like tourists, are seen with Jyoti Malhotra in the Scottish YouTuber’s video.

Police are now investigating why Jyoti Malhotra enjoyed such VIP treatment and security in Pakistan. The armed men seen in the Anarkali Bazar video are not in uniform, but could be security personnel in plain clothes. Haryana cops are now trying to find out who had ordered the security cover for Jyoti Malhotra.

These videos have intensified scrutiny about the reception enjoyed by Jyoti Malhotra during her trips to Pakistan, where she was reportedly invited to high-profile parties involving security and intelligence officials of the country.

According to media reports, the Pakistani operatives reportedly provided her with special treatment during her visit to Pakistan. Police further said she was fully aware of their positions, including involvement in intelligence, suggesting deliberate engagement on Malhotra’s part.

Other reports suggested that Jyoti Malhotra’s chat records revealed she used to communicate with everyone personally and had no involvement in any groups, suggesting an effort to keep her conversations secret.

According to sources, Jyoti Malhotra was in contact with four Pakistani intelligence agents and spoke to them one-on-one. These include Danish, whom she met during a visit to the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi, Ahsan and Shahid. The investigators are now trying to confirm these agents’ designations and job titles within the Pakistan security establishment.

Police had seized Jyoti Malhotra’s digital devices, including her phone and laptop. While many messages and other information had been deleted, police managed to recover a massive 12 terabytes (TB) of data from Jyoti Malhotra’s phones and laptops. The barrage of data is in the form of videos, photos, her chat records, transaction details, and more.

The data is now being scanned for more leads in the case. According to sources, this data evidence establishes that Jyoti Malhotra was well aware that she was speaking to ISI officials, but she was not scared and continued contact. Jyoti Malhotra’s lavish trips and spending disproportionate to her income had come under the police scanner. Sources have said Haryana Police may reach out to central agencies to investigate the YouTuber’s money trail.

Jyoti Malhotra was arrested on May 15, a week after India carried out airstrikes in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir to avenge the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 innocent lives. The YouTuber, who has four lakh subscribers, recently visited Pakistan and China and came under the radar for her lavish spending and appearances at high-profile Pakistani events.

The YouTuber, who has a travel vlogging channel, has been charged under the Official Secrets Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita section penalising acts endangering India’s unity, sovereignty and integrity. Sources among the investigators have said the recovered data might lead to more charges against Jyoti Malhotra.

Malhotra was sent to 14-day police custody in Haryana’s Hisar on Monday. It is to be noted that Malhotra was already under four-day police custody in Hisar that ended yesterday.

The 33-year-old YouTuber was arrested on suspicion of espionage, and police suspected that she was in touch with Pakistani intelligence operatives. Malhotra is accused of sharing sensitive information with Pakistan, including details about power blackouts in India during ‘Operation Sindoor.’