NIA And Intelligence Bureau Investigate Jyoti Rani Malhotra's Pakistan Connections, YouTuber Was Likely Being 'Groomed'

The investigation into Jyoti Rani Malhotra, the travel vlogger arrested on spying charges, has revealed significant connections to Pakistani intelligence and uncovered key pieces of evidence, The Indian Express reported.

The investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Intelligence Bureau (IB) is focusing on Malhotra's alleged links with Pakistani Intelligence Operatives (PIOs) and her recent travels to Pakistan, China, and other countries.

According to investigators, Malhotra obtained her passport in 2018 and took a number of trips, including one to China and several to Pakistan. A key component of the investigation is her interaction with Danish, also known as Ehsan-ur-Rahim, a Pakistani High Commission official in New Delhi who has since been expelled.

Danish introduced her to other Pakistani operatives, according to the FIR, and she kept in touch with them through encrypted apps like Snapchat, Telegram, and WhatsApp.

Police are analysing Malhotra's laptop, mobile phone, and other electronic devices to determine the exact nature of the information she shared. There are suspicions that she was being "groomed" as an asset and that she was a part of a wider espionage network operating across northern India. The investigation is also exploring her financial transactions and the source of her seemingly lavish lifestyle.