Representational image (PTI)
Six Indian nationals, including a travel blogger from Haryana, have been arrested for allegedly leaking sensitive information to Pakistani operatives. The network operated across Haryana and Punjab, involving individuals who acted as agents, financial conduits, and sources of intelligence.
One of the accused, Jyoti Malhotra, ran a YouTube channel called "Travel with Jo." According to authorities, she travelled to Pakistan in 2023 after obtaining a visa through commission agents. During her visit, she reportedly formed a close relationship with Ehsan-ur-Rahim, also known as Danish, an employee at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.
Danish, who was declared persona non grata and expelled from India on May 13, 2025, is said to have introduced Jyoti to several operatives linked to Pakistani intelligence.
Jyoti reportedly maintained contact with Pakistani operatives via encrypted messaging apps such as WhatsApp, Telegram, and Snapchat. One of her key contacts was Shakir, also known as Rana Shahbaz, whose number she had saved under the alias ‘Jatt Randhawa’, Indian Today reported.
She is accused of sharing sensitive information about various Indian locations which was allegedly used to promote a favourable image of Pakistan on social media. Investigators also claim that she was romantically involved with a Pakistani intelligence operative and even travelled with him to Bali, Indonesia. Her continued coordination with Danish during his posting in Delhi further fueled suspicion.
Jyoti now faces charges under Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) as well as Sections 3, 4, and 5 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923. Authorities have obtained a written confession, and the case has been transferred to the Economic Offences Wing in Hisar for further investigation.
In addition to Jyoti, another major suspect in the case is Guzala, a 32-year-old widow from Malerkotla, Punjab. She visited the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi on February 27, 2025, to apply for a visa, where she met Danish.
Following their meeting, the two began communicating frequently. Danish encouraged her to shift from WhatsApp to Telegram, citing better security. He gained her confidence by expressing romantic interest and promising marriage, maintaining their relationship through chats and video calls.
Danish also began transferring money to Guzala — Rs 10,000 through PhonePe on March 7, and Rs 20,000 through Google Pay on March 23. He later instructed her to distribute Rs 10,000 to designated individuals in smaller amounts: Rs 1,800, Rs 899, Rs 699, and Rs 3,000.
On April 23, Guzala made another visit to the Pakistan High Commission, this time with her friend Banu Nasreena, also a widow from Malerkotla. With Danish’s assistance, both women secured visas, which were issued the following day.
Additional individuals arrested in connection with the case include Yameen Mohd from Malerkotla, who allegedly assisted Danish with financial transactions and visa processing; Devinder Singh Dhillon, a Sikh student from Kaithal, Haryana, who was reportedly recruited during a pilgrimage to Pakistan and later sent videos of the Patiala cantonment; and Arman from Nuh, Haryana, who is accused of supplying Indian SIM cards, transferring funds, and attending the Defence Expo 2025 under the direction of Pakistani intelligence operatives.
Officials told India Today that the case appears to be part of a broader espionage network, where emotionally and financially vulnerable individuals from specific religious and social backgrounds were exploited through promises of emotional connection, money, and marriage. The accused have allegedly admitted to their involvement, and investigations are continuing.