Following Operation Sindoor, the Haryana and Punjab police have arrested 10 individuals in just over two weeks, as the espionage investigation continues to widen across both states. The latest arrest is that of Hisar-based YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, who was taken into custody for allegedly spying for Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). In the aftermath of her arrest, social media users have circulated a postcard-style image allegedly from AajTak, showing Jyoti Malhotra wearing a BJP cap and scarf, claiming that the Haryana-based YouTuber accused of spying for Pakistan is affiliated with the BJP.
Chirag Patel claimed while sharing the image, ‘Haryana’s female YouTuber arrested on charges of treason. 6 people including Jyoti Malhotra were arrested. Jyoti Malhotra accused of spying.’
देश से गद्दारी के आरोप में हरियाणा की महिला यूट्यूबर गिरफ्तार
— Chirag Patel (@tuvter) May 17, 2025
◆ ज्योति मल्होत्रा समेत 6 लोगों को किया गिरफ्तार
◆ ज्योति मल्होत्रा पर लगे जासूसी करने के आरोप#JyotiMalhotra #Haryana | Jyoti Malhotra Arrested Youtuber pic.twitter.com/cjcSemEIDq
Divya Kumari wrote, ‘Why are they mostly associated with BJP? Caught spying for Pakistan.’
ये ज्यादातर बीजेपी से जुड़े हुए क्यों होते है
— दिव्या कुमारी (@divyakumaari) May 18, 2025
पाकिस्तान के लिए जासूसी करती पकड़ी गई pic.twitter.com/dZWNi0efWh
Samajwadi Party leader IP Singh wrote, ‘People like Brajesh Pathak fall in this category. Grabbed the post of Deputy Chief Minister through Jugaad formula. There is no evil on earth that it has not committed. In Congress with Pandit Harishankar Tiwari ji, in BSP with Shri Satish Mishra ji and then in BJP. As soon as he loses power, he goes to another party…’
ब्रजेश पाठक जैसे लोग इसी श्रेणी में आते हैं।
— I.P. Singh (@IPSinghSp) May 18, 2025
जुगाड़ फॉर्मूले से उप-मुख्यमंत्री की कुर्सी हथिया ली।
धरती का कोई ऐसा कुकर्म नहीं जो इसने न किया हो।
पंडित हरिशंकर तिवारी जी के साथ कांग्रेस में, श्री सतीश मिश्रा जी के साथ बसपा में फिर भाजपा में।
सत्ता जाते ही फिर दूसरे दल में…. pic.twitter.com/4tzaAQrwBe
X users, such as Jitendra Verma, Bamboo Cell, Burnol Supplier, Ritesh Deshmukh ( Parody) and SCR also shared a similar claim.
Fact Check
We began our fact-checking process by conducting a reverse image search of the alleged Aaj Tak postcard. However, we could not find any matching image on Aaj Tak’s official social media platforms.
Additionally, we used the AI image detection tool Sight Engine, which confirmed that the viral postcard was AI-generated. The results identified the image as a deepfake created using artificial intelligence tools.
While investigating further, we also looked into the background of Jyoti Malhotra, a Hisar-based YouTuber who was recently arrested for allegedly spying for Pakistan. According to an NDTV report published on May 18, Malhotra is a travel vlogger from Haryana who runs a YouTube channel called Travel With Jo. Her Instagram handle, travelwithjo1, has over 137,000 followers. Malhotra visited Pakistan twice. Her content from those trips, including visits to Lahore’s Anarkali Bazaar, Katas Raj Temple, and various intercity bus journeys, came under scrutiny by Indian authorities.
According to NDTV, her first visit to Pakistan was in 2023, made possible through a visa arranged by commission agents. During this trip, she allegedly met Ehsan-ur-Rahim (also known as Danish), an official at the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi. Over time, she developed a close relationship with Rahim, who later introduced her to Pakistani intelligence operatives.
After returning to India, Malhotra allegedly maintained contact with these handlers and is accused of sharing sensitive information about Indian Army movements and locations. She is believed to be part of an espionage network operating across Haryana and Punjab. She was arrested on Saturday and has been booked under charges of espionage, along with five others.
| Claim | Jyoti Malhotra, a YouTuber arrested for spying for Pakistan, is a BJP member |
| Claimed by | IP Singh, Divya Kumari, Chirag Patel, and others |
| Fact Check | Jyoti Malhotra has no affiliation with the BJP. The viral Aaj Tak postcard image making this claim is fake and has been identified as AI-generated. |
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