Cops recover ‘spy’ YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra’s diary: What she wrote after Pak trip
The police have recovered the personal diary of Haryana-based YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, who was recently arrested on charges of spying for Pakistan.
The diary reportedly contains detailed entries about her thoughts and travels, some of which directly reference her time across the border.
Jyoti Malhotra, 33, is among the 11 people who have been arrested from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh over the past two weeks on charges of espionage, with investigators pointing at an alleged Pakistan-linked spy network operating in North India. Jyoti, who ran the YouTube channel ‘Travel with JO’, was arrested from the New Aggarsain Extension in Haryana’s Hisar on May 16.
According to police sources, Jyoti Malhotra was meticulous in documenting her experiences, often carrying her diary on international trips. She wrote her reflections in both English and Hindi. Investigators believe the diary may provide critical insights into her international connections and suspected activities.
The diary, about 10-11 pages long, contains eight pages of general travel notes in English and three pages written in Hindi focusing on Pakistan.
An entry in Hindi, which she reportedly wrote after she came back from her Pakistan trip, read: “After completing a 10-day journey through Pakistan, today I return to my country, India. We don’t know how long the distances of borders will remain, but may the grievances of hearts disappear. We all belong to the same land, the same soil.”
Sources revealed that Jyoti, in her diary, praised the hospitality she received in Pakistan and expressed hope that more Indian Hindus could visit their ancestral sites there. She also wrote about her wish for easier access to religious places-including temples and gurdwaras-and a desire to reconnect with families separated during the 1947 Partition.
Police are particularly examining footage from her Kashmir travels, where she was frequently accompanied by Priyanka Setupati from Puri, Odisha. Investigative agencies have already questioned Setupati regarding her involvement or knowledge of Jyoti Malhotra’s activities.
According to investigators, Malhotra often worked late into the night, editing and uploading videos until 1 am. She reportedly told her family she was travelling to Delhi, when in fact she was heading elsewhere. Her social media posts showcased a glamorous travel lifestyle, including a costly Bali trip featured in one of her vlogs.
Following her arrest, her family has removed all her photographs from their home in what is being seen as a symbolic gesture. Her father is reportedly devastated and has distanced himself from the case.
Jyoti Malhotra is currently in five-day police custody and is being interrogated by a joint team from the NIA, Intelligence Bureau, and Haryana Police. Authorities are also scrutinising her financial transactions and travel history. Police believe her diary could reveal her motives, contacts, and the extent of her alleged espionage activities.
MORE ABOUT THE CASE
A senior Haryana Police officer in Hisar confirmed that central agencies and military intelligence are investigating her travel details, as she had reportedly visited Pakistan, China, and other countries. “We are trying to reconstruct the complete timeline of her foreign visits,” the officer said.
On Sunday, Hisar SP Shashank Kumar Sawan stated that Pakistani intelligence operatives were “developing” Malhotra as an asset. She was allegedly in contact with a Pakistani official posted at the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi during the four-day military standoff that followed the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
While Malhotra is not believed to have had direct access to military operations, SP Sawan said she was in communication with Pakistani intelligence operatives (PIOs).
“This is modern warfare – it’s no longer limited to the borders. We’ve uncovered a new modus operandi where PIOs attempt to recruit social media influencers,” Sawan said.