A travel blogger from Hisar district, Haryana, has been arrested for allegedly sharing sensitive information with agents of the Pakistani intelligence agency. Suspect Malhotra, known online as “Travel With Jo”, was charged under the Official Secrets Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. During the interrogations, after a confession, Malhotra was taken into police custody for five days, during which it became almost certain that Malhotra had links to Pakistani intelligence. The suspect’s links were to a Pakistan intelligence officer working under diplomatic protection at the Pakistan High Commission, New Delhi.
š„The Pakistan šµš°High Commission staffer involved in the Jyoti Malhotraš®š³ case is Ehsan Ur Rahim, alias Danish Rahim.
This video from Jyoti Malhotra's YouTube channel shows she has extremely cordial relations with him. Danish introduced her to his wife, who she invited to herā¦ pic.twitter.com/7QijASPXBi---Advertisement---— ARIKAš®š³š© (@nidhisj2001) May 18, 2025
Who Is Ehsan-ur-Rahim?
According to the FIR registered by the Civil Lines police station in Hisar, Malhotra came into contact with Ehsan-ur-Rahim (commonly referred to as Danish) while attending the Pakistan High Commission for her visit in 2023. Rahim worked at the mission and allegedly acted as Malhotra’s handler. During Malhotra’s visit to Pakistan, she met another individual named Ali Ehwan, who facilitated her hospitality and travel arrangements. Ehwan is believed to have introduced Malhotra to Pakistani intelligence officials as she met with Rahim and others identified as Shakir and Rana Shahbaz.
In response to the revelations, the Indian government issued an order just 24 hours later on May 13, 2025, designating Rahim persona non grata and mandating his expulsion. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) cited “activities inconsistent with his official status” as grounds for the action. A formal protest was made to the Pakistan High Commission.
Evidence of Malhotra’s connections to Rahim includes a video she posted to her YouTube channel on March 30, 2024. In the video, shot at an Iftar function at the Pakistan High Commission, Malhotra welcomed Rahim and his wife warmly, praising their hospitality andāeven encouraginglyāinvited them to her village (in Hisar).
āCome see the hospitality in our village. Itās very similar,ā she tells them, drawing comparisons between Indian and Pakistani warmth.
Malhotraās interest in visiting Pakistan was evident throughout the video, as she repeatedly expressed her desire to travel there and discussed the possibility of obtaining a visa. She also approached Chinese officials at the event with a similar request, playfully asking, āGive me visa!ā
