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RTI Reveals Govt Invited Alleged Pakistani Spy Jyoti Malhotra to Kerala

July 7, 2025, 11:31 am

An RTI response has established that Jyoti Malhotra, a YouTube personality at present in police custody on charges of spying for Pakistan, was previously invited by the state government to Kerala for an official tourism promotion campaign.

As per the RTI reply that has now emerged in the public domain, Malhotra’s stay, travel, and itinerary costs were all paid for by Kerala’s tourism department. The trip was part of a state-sponsored influencer outreach program aimed at promoting Kerala’s image as a digital tourism destination, an ANI news report said.

The 33-year-old YouTuber from Haryana, running the channel Travel with Jo, was one of a number of influencers hired by the tourism department between January 2024 and May 2025. Over these six months, Malhotra visited various places in Kerala including Kannur, Kozhikode, Kochi, Alappuzha, and Munnar.

In one of her viral videos, she can be seen dressed in a traditional Kerala sari at a Theyyam performance in Kannur.

Investigators Trace Links to Pakistani Intelligence

Malhotra’s travel history has become a significant part of the ongoing investigation, as she made multiple visits to Pakistan and allegedly established links with Pakistani intelligence officials.

Officials revealed that one of her known contacts was a staffer at the Pakistan High Commission, Ehsan-ur-Rahim, also known as Danish, who was expelled by the Indian government on May 13 following espionage allegations.

Although police have not yet discovered any military-related information in her possession, investigators assert she was “knowingly in touch with people associated with the Pakistani intelligence community.”

Arrest and Ongoing Legal Proceedings

Malhotra was arrested on 16 May from the area of New Aggarsain Extension and booked under the Official Secrets Act and corresponding sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Earlier, her bail plea was turned down by judicial magistrate first class Sunil Kumar on June 12. We will move a bail application in the district sessions court. It’s a routine process to produce her in court after 14 days and extend the judicial custody until she obtains a regular bail,” said her lawyer Kumar Mukesh.

The court also extended her judicial custody on June 23, and the next date of hearing is July 7.

Part of Broader Espionage Crackdown

Malhotra is one of 12 people arrested across Haryana, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh as part of a coordinated crackdown against a suspected network of espionage. The network allegedly wanted to recruit Indian content creators and influencers to obtain sensitive information.

Her channel has more than 480 travel videos of places such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Thailand.

From Madhuri Gupta to Jyoti Malhotra: India’s Espionage Woes Resurface After 15 Years

May 21, 2025, 5:47 pm

The recent arrest of YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra on charges of spying for Pakistan has stirred up painful memories among India’s security establishment. Her case, with digital spying and supposed intelligence collection while masquerading as a social media influencer, recalls one of the most shocking betrayals in recent Indian times: Madhuri Gupta, a senior Indian diplomat who was arrested in 2010 for passing on sensitive information to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Though the tools and channels are different, the security threat is eerily the same.

Madhuri Gupta: The Traitor Diplomat

Madhuri Gupta’s tale is a gripping illustration of how faith can be broken from the inside. A graduate of Jawaharlal Nehru University and a veteran Indian Foreign Service (IFS) diplomat, Gupta was the Second Secretary (Press and Information) at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. Well-versed in Urdu and ideally placed to keep an eye on the media in Pakistan, she was entrusted with some of India’s deepest secrets. But behind this trusted cover, she cheated her country by supplying extremely sensitive information to Pakistan’s intelligence system.

In early 2010, Indian intelligence started suspecting a leak in the Islamabad mission. Intelligence Bureau Director Rajiv Mathur then launched a secret operation, providing Gupta with false leads to follow any unauthorized leaks. The information soon cropped up with Pakistani contacts, affirming suspicions of spying.

The Honeytrap That Undermined a Nation

Gupta’s own investigations later confirmed that her demise was based on a vulnerable emotional side. She had become infatuated with a younger Pakistani man, Jamshed — who turned out to be an ISI operative. This “honeytrap” played on her affections and trust, making her an unwitting agent of Pakistan’s intelligence agency.

Her treachery was wholesale. Gupta shared key information regarding India’s foreign policy, defense activities, and names of intelligence agents. To her shame, she exposed intelligence regarding the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, one of India’s worst moments. Email addresses established by ISI handlers and communication equipment seized during the investigation highlighted the hierarchical nature of her spying.

Intelligence Collection Beyond Diplomatic Cover

One of the most startling incidents involved Gupta’s visit to Jammu and Kashmir, which she misrepresented as being for a wedding. Rather, she recced the hydroelectric infrastructure of the state — an interest of strategic importance for Pakistan. This compromise laid bare weak points that could have had disastrous implications for Indian security.

Gupta had frequent contact with ISI officials Mubshar Raza Rana and Jamshed, sending sensitive information from her office and home in Islamabad from the end of 2009 to her April 2010 arrest.

Arrest and Judicial Penalties

Madhuri Gupta was called to New Delhi in April 2010 under the guise of watching SAARC summit preparations. She was arrested by the Delhi Police Special Cell and charged under the Official Secrets Act. The court held her guilty of criminal conspiracy and a number of offenses under the Indian Penal Code. It underscored the seriousness of her betrayal, “She was in a position of great trust, and she did something which brought disrepute to the country.” The court dismissed her appeal for leniency, highlighting the serious harm to national security.

Gupta spent 21 months at Tihar Jail before being granted bail. In 2018, she was officially convicted but permitted to appeal the judgment. She died in 2021 aged 64, leaving a legacy of prudence to the country.

A Stark Reminder in the Digital Age

Jyoti Malhotra’s arrest brings this cautionary anecdote to life again. While Gupta used backroom diplomatic corridors, Malhotra is accused of using cyber space for collating and disseminating information. This change from the backrooms of diplomacy to the space where the social media dominates is indicative of how espionage evolves according to new times.

The central threat, however, is the same. Whether in the form of direct links to sensitive government processes or indirect cyber-space listening and persuasion, espionage continues to test India’s national security.

While authorities probe Malhotra’s reported actions, Gupta’s tale is a somber reminder: even trusted insiders can betray. Vigilance is critical. India needs to harden its countermeasures against the latest espionage techniques so that diplomats, as well as online influencers like Gupta, do not become instruments of aggression against the interests of the country.

Jyoti Malhotra Admits Contact with Pakistani Official Prior to Pahalgam Attack: Police

May 21, 2025, 11:37 am

In a shocking twist that has run through India’s security establishment, YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra admitted to being in regular touch with an official of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. Officials said on Tuesday that Malhotra, in her interrogation, admitted to having been in touch with Ehsan-ur-Rahim, alias Danish, a Pakistani official at the High Commission, from November 2023 to March 2025.

Police believe Danish actively collaborated to groom Malhotra as an intelligence asset, which is a strong indicator of espionage activities masquerading as social media influence.

Several Devices of Jyoti Malhotra Seized for Forensic

Hisar Police spokesman Vikas Kumar disclosed, “She confessed to her direct communication with Danish during this period.” Malhotra was also in touch with a few other YouTube influencers, which suggests a potential wider network of influence.

Police have taken into custody Malhotra’s three mobile phones, laptop, and two phones of Harkirat Singh, IT in-charge of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC), for forensic analysis to find out the extent of these connections.

NIA and IB Conduct Aggressive Interrogation with Jyoti Malhotra

The interrogation involved central agencies such as the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Intelligence Bureau (IB), targeting Malhotra’s suspected connections to Pakistani Intelligence Operatives (PIOs). Based on a senior Hisar police official, who preferred anonymity, “She has multiple bank accounts, and there have been numerous transactions. Analyzing the financial data will take time.”

This financial probe is indicative of the extent of the investigation and the probable funding channels that could feed the espionage activities.

Far-reaching International Travels Under the Lens

The investigators are also analyzing Malhotra’s long history of international travel. According to records, she applied for her passport in 2018, which is current until 2028, and has traveled to nations such as Pakistan, China, Dubai, Thailand, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and Indonesia.

These trips present a key part of the jigsaw puzzle, potentially connecting her movements with intelligence collection and communication.

Legal Cases and Broader Spy Network

At present, police intend to bring Jyoti Malhotra in front of a local court on Wednesday to request an extension of her remand for further interrogation. Malhotra’s arrest is all part of a larger crackdown on a Pakistan-based spy ring in northern India, with 12 people being arrested over the past fortnight in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.

‘Never Said She Went to Pakistan’: Jyoti Malhotra’s Father Recalls Daughter’s Claims of Delhi Visits

May 20, 2025, 2:21 pm

In a shocking case that has startled the internet community as well as national intelligence bodies, influencer and YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra has been detained by Haryana Police under the Official Secrets Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) provisions. The detention comes in the wake of serious charges of espionage, foreign intelligence connections, and suspicious foreign travel.

As per the authorities, Jyoti Malhotra was discovered with “suspicious” material on her laptop and mobile phone. The authorities also asserted that she had direct contact with individuals associated with Pakistani intelligence outfits.

A Father’s Contradictory Narrative

But a shocking twist came when her father, Harish Malhotra, spoke out in shock and bewilderment over his daughter’s activities. “I didn’t know she had told me that she was going to Delhi.”. She never informed me about anything,” he informed ANI. Harish had initially admitted her visits to Pakistan, referring to her YouTube videos, but he has now recanted and said he knew nothing. “I have no comment. I am myself upset and ill for the past 3 days,” he further added.

This contradictory stance has raised many an eyebrow. His original claims that she was producing videos in Pakistan and had the necessary permissions contradict his recent suggestion that he does not even possess a gadget with which to watch her videos.

Allegations of Contact with Pakistani Intelligence

Agencies claim that Jyoti initially approached the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi in 2023, when she had a meeting with a man named Ahsan-ur-Rahim, alias Danish. Officials say this was the starting point for her contacts with Pakistani intelligence operatives (PIOs). SP Shashank Kumar Sawan disclosed that Jyoti had gone to Pakistan several times, including shortly before the Pahalgam terror attack, and had also gone to China.

“Haryana Police is interrogating her along with central agencies. We are checking her financial dealings and movement records to identify her sources of income,” SP Sawan said. Her declared sources of income do not support her foreign travel. We suspect foreign funding. On the face of it, she was a travel blogger,” he said.

Espionage in the Digital Age

The case highlights growing concerns that authorities hold about how potential soft propaganda and intelligence operations can exploit social media influencers. SP Sawan said central agencies had already raised an alert that Pakistani agents were attempting to recruit Indian influencers. The utilization of online platforms for indirect surveillance or influence operations is now a contemporary spy tactic, with soft influence being equally important as hard data theft.

Officials further noted that Jyoti’s interactions with individuals declared persona non grata by the Indian government amid heightened Indo-Pak tensions raise “alarming” concerns, even though she did not have direct access to sensitive military files.

Looking Forward

As the inquiry progresses, questions arise about loopholes in monitoring foreign activities of digital influencers, particularly from countries reported as having hostile intelligence operations. The decision in this case could provide the impetus for policy-level deliberations regarding increased monitoring of foreign travel and funding sources of digital content creators.

At the same time, Jyoti Malhotra is in police custody for five days while authorities scan her conversations, bank activity, and content history. The country is watching closely, not only out of curiosity, but with real concern about how deep and digital spying can now penetrate — even in the name of a vlog.

Espionage Fallout: India Expels Pakistani High Commission Staffer

May 13, 2025, 11:07 pm

The Government of India on Tuesday expelled a staffer from the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi for allegedly being involved in espionage activities. The official was declared persona non grata for actions “not in keeping with his official status in India” and was ordered to leave the country within 24 hours.

The Ministry of External Affairs also issued a formal diplomatic protest, or demarche, to the charge d’affaires of the Pakistan High Commission, Saad Warraich.

Punjab Police arrest two for spying

The expulsion follows the arrest of two individuals from Punjab who were allegedly spying for Pakistan. Punjab Police revealed on May 11 that the men had provided sensitive information regarding Indian Army movements to a Pakistan-based handler associated with the high commission in New Delhi.

According to Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav, the initial arrest was made based on credible intelligence inputs. The second person was detained after information provided by the first accused.

Money trail and further investigation

Investigators found that the accused had received money via online transactions in exchange for sharing classified information. They were in regular contact with the handler and were also suspected of distributing funds to other local operatives under the handler’s direction.

Previous actions against Pakistan

This move comes shortly after India took strong diplomatic steps against Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, which killed 26 civilians. India had earlier expelled three defence attaches from the Pakistani mission and reduced the number of diplomatic staff in each other’s capitals from 55 to 30.

The latest expulsion highlights rising tensions between the two countries amid increasing concerns over cross-border espionage and terrorism.

9th US Telecom Hit in Chinese Espionage Campaign: White House

December 28, 2024, 5:44 am

The White House revealed that a ninth U.S. telecom firm has been hacked as part of the Chinese espionage campaign known as Salt Typhoon. This extensive hacking operation has allowed Beijing to access private texts and calls of an unknown number of Americans, including senior government officials and political figures.

Deputy National Security Adviser Anne Neuberger announced the update on Friday, following earlier reports confirming eight telecom companies were targeted. The campaign has also affected dozens of other nations, exposing significant cybersecurity gaps.

Espionage Goals and Tactics

Salt Typhoon’s primary objective appears to be spying on individuals involved in government or political activities.

“Hackers aimed to identify phone owners and monitor texts and calls of government targets,” Neuberger explained.

The attacks have predominantly impacted individuals in the Washington-Virginia area. FBI officials suspect senior government officials were among those targeted.

The Chinese hackers used advanced techniques to compromise telecommunications networks and obtain call records while maintaining a low profile. This careful approach has hindered efforts to determine the full scope of affected Americans.

Need for Cybersecurity Reforms

Neuberger emphasized the inadequacy of voluntary cybersecurity measures in safeguarding critical infrastructure from hacking attempts by countries like China, Russia, and Iran.

“Stronger cybersecurity practices are essential to counter such threats,” she stated.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is set to discuss mandatory cybersecurity protocols for the telecom industry in an upcoming meeting. Additionally, the government is preparing new actions to respond to the hacking campaign, though specific measures were not disclosed.

China’s Denial and the Path Forward

The Chinese government has denied any involvement in the Salt Typhoon campaign. Despite this, the episode has highlighted the urgent need for robust cybersecurity frameworks to protect U.S. telecommunications networks and critical infrastructure.

Gene Spector Serving Time in Russian Prison Gets New 15 Year Sentence for Spying

December 24, 2024, 8:04 pm

Gene Spector, a U.S. citizen originally from Russia is currently serving time in a Russian prison, has received another 15-year sentence for espionage.

In August 2023, a Moscow court filed espionage charges against Spector, but the details of the case are still kept confidential. This recent conviction contributes to Spector’s 2022 sentencing, during which he received 3.5 years for enabling bribes to a former Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich’s aide.

Spector, a past executive in Russia’s medical devices sector, was originally connected to a prominent bribery scandal linked to extravagant benefits. The assistant, Anastasia Alekseyeva, was found guilty in April and given a 12-year sentence for taking bribes through two lavish trips abroad.

Dvorkovich, who held the position of deputy prime minister under Dmitry Medvedev from 2012 until 2018, currently serves as the president of the international chess federation, FIDE. Though Dvorkovich was not directly involved in the bribery scandal, the conviction of his former aide and Spector’s initial sentencing created a cloud over his previous time in government.

The recent espionage conviction brings into question Russia’s judicial system and its unclear management of politically sensitive matters. Observers remark on the rising prevalence of espionage accusations directed at individuals connected to the West, mirroring a larger pattern during escalated geopolitical tensions.

The absence of clarity regarding Spector’s case has sparked conjecture about its true intentions. It remains unclear if it indicates a real security threat or is simply a component of a broader political narrative. Currently, Spector confronts the reality of a greatly prolonged prison sentence, offering scant hope for a resolution anytime soon.

Taiwan Sentences Father-Son Duo in China Espionage Case

August 30, 2024, 7:25 pm

A father and son from Taiwan, both surnamed Huang, have been sentenced to eight years in prison for their involvement in an espionage ring that compromised sensitive military information, local media reported on Friday. The Taiwanese Supreme Court upheld their sentences on August 29, rejecting their final appeals. The court also ordered a retrial for their co-conspirators, according to Taiwan News.

The Huangs became entangled in a Chinese intelligence operation after meeting Chinese officials during a business trip to Xiamen in 2015. Upon returning to Taiwan, they recruited two military officers—Yeh, from an air defense unit, and Su, from a missile unit—into their espionage network. These officers were coerced into pledging their loyalty to China, leading to significant breaches of Taiwan’s military secrets.

The Huangs’ spy ring successfully obtained eight classified documents related to Taiwan’s Han Kuang exercises, the island’s key annual military drills designed to simulate responses to a potential Chinese invasion. These documents, detailing Taiwan’s defense capabilities and strategies, were either physically transported to China or sent via encrypted messaging apps.

For their treachery, the Huangs received NT $1.71 million (approximately USD 53,600) from their Chinese handlers, while Yeh and Su were paid NT $210,000 and NT $100,000, respectively. The case underscores how national security can be compromised for relatively modest sums of money.

The espionage operation came to light as part of Taiwan’s broader efforts to combat Chinese intelligence activities. In April, the Tainan branch of the Taiwan High Court convicted the Huangs of violating multiple laws, including the National Security Act and the Classified National Security Information Protection Act. The court also ordered the confiscation of their illicit gains.

While the Supreme Court upheld the Huangs’ sentences, it overturned the verdicts for Yeh and Su, citing the need for further examination of evidence. The Taiwan High Court has been instructed to conduct a new trial for the two officers, highlighting the complexities involved in prosecuting espionage cases.

Taiwan’s government remains vigilant against such threats, given the critical importance of military intelligence in safeguarding the island’s security. The Han Kuang exercises are particularly vital to Taiwan’s defense strategy, making the leak of related information especially damaging.

North Korean Hackers Conduct Global Cyber Espionage Campaign Targeting Military Secrets

July 26, 2024, 12:24 pm

North Korean hackers have conducted a global cyber espionage campaign to steal classified military secrets in support of Pyongyang’s banned nuclear weapons program. According to a joint advisory released on Thursday by the United States, Britain, and South Korea. The cyber unit, known as Anadriel or APT45 by cybersecurity researchers, is believed to be part of North Korea’s Reconnaissance General Bureau, an intelligence agency sanctioned by the US in 2015.

Targeted Organizations and Methods

The advisory details how the hackers have targeted or breached computer systems at a wide range of defense and engineering firms, including manufacturers of tanks, submarines, naval vessels, fighter aircraft, and missile and radar systems. High-profile victims in the US include the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Randolph Air Force Base in Texas, and Robins Air Force Base in Georgia.

In one notable incident, US prosecutors allege that the hackers used a malware script in February 2022 to gain unauthorized access to NASA’s computer system for three months, extracting over 17 gigabytes of unclassified data. The joint advisory warns that the group and their cyber techniques remain an ongoing threat to various industry sectors worldwide, including entities in Japan and India.

Financial Motivations and Legal Actions

To fund their operations, North Korean hackers have also used ransomware to target US hospitals and healthcare companies. The US Justice Department announced charges against one suspect, Rim Jong Hyok, for conspiring to access computer networks in the United States and money laundering. One of the ransomware incidents linked to Rim involved a May 2021 hack against a Kansas-based hospital, which paid a ransom after the hackers encrypted four of its computer servers. The payment, made in bitcoin, was transferred to a Chinese bank and then withdrawn from an ATM in Dandong, China, near the Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge connecting the city to Sinuiju, North Korea.

The FBI has offered a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to Rim’s arrest, believing him to be in North Korea. U.S. officials also reported the seizure of some online accounts belonging to the hackers, including $600,000 in virtual currency that will be returned to victims of the ransomware attacks.

International Impact and Ongoing Threat

Paul Chichester, a representative from Britain’s National Cyber Security Centre, part of the GCHQ spy agency, emphasized the severity of the situation: “The global cyber espionage operation that we have exposed today shows the lengths that DPRK state-sponsored actors are willing to go to pursue their military and nuclear programs.”

In August of the previous year, Reuters exclusively reported that an elite group of North Korean hackers had successfully breached systems at NPO Mashinostroyeniya, a rocket design bureau based in Reutov, on the outskirts of Moscow. The hackers used common phishing techniques and computer exploits to trick officials at targeted firms into granting access to their internal computer systems, as detailed in Thursday’s advisory.

The joint advisory from the United States, Britain, and South Korea underscores the ongoing threat posed by North Korean cyber operations and calls for heightened vigilance across affected sectors worldwide.

Austrian national charged with espionage, detained in Afghanistan

June 14, 2023, 3:35 pm

An Austrian man who visited Afghanistan earlier this year is presently detained in the country, the Austrian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

The government verified in an email that the individual travelled to Afghanistan in May and was detained there. Austria has long recommended against visiting Afghanistan, the Ministry added. The details of the man’s identity and other information were not revealed but Austria did declare that it has been “actively seeking a solution” since learning of the arrest and has been in contact with the man’s family on a regular basis.

According to reports, the man was a veteran far-right extremist in the 80s and a co-founder of the National Democratic Party, a minor far-right organisation banned in 1988. He has been in detention for several weeks after a far-right journal published an article titled “Vacation with the Taliban” in which he provided a positive depiction of life in Afghanistan under Taliban control. He has been held for spying, and Austrian neo-Nazis have made his case public through Telegram channels.

The man, identified as Herbert F, has a history of visiting “dangerous places”, including Afghanistan in the 1980s and Kurdish forces fighting the ISIS group in northern Syria a few years ago.

The Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021, following the ouster of the previous government and the withdrawal of American forces.

Chinese malware detected in Guam, US systems says Microsoft

May 25, 2023, 3:24 pm

American intelligence agencies and Microsoft have detected a mysterious computer code that has been popping up in telecommunications systems in Guam and elsewhere in the United States.

Microsoft says the code was installed by a group called ‘Volt Typhoon’, part of a Chinese state-sponsored effort targeting critical infrastructure such as communications, electric and gas utilities, as well as maritime operations and transportation.

This has raised alarms in the United States since because Guam, with its Pacific ports and vast American air base, is vital for any military response that the US might mount in case of an invasion or blockade of Taiwan.

The code, called a ‘web shell’, is a malicious script that enables remote access to a server. Home routers are particularly vulnerable, especially older models without updated software or protections. Authorities say it was installed with “great stealth”, sometimes flowing through routers and other common consumer devices, making the intrusion harder to track.

The web shell is designed to break through firewalls, which could enable anyone with access to enable destructive attacks. However, the company has said that the code seems to have been used for an espionage campaign and not to access offensive attacks.

Microsoft and the National Security Agency announced that they would publish details of the code, making it possible for corporate users, manufacturers and others to detect and remove it.

Administration officials said they believed the code was part of a vast Chinese intelligence collection effort that spans cyberspace, outer space and the lower atmosphere.

DRDO official arrested for alleged spy connections

February 26, 2023, 3:22 pm

According to Balasore SP Sagarika Natha, a DRDO officer was detained on suspicion of sharing top-secret defence secrets with a Pakistani woman spy has been remanded to police detention for four days.

The arrested officer DRDO has been identified as Balaram Dey. The Balasore police reportedly requested a five-day remand at Balasore court for additional incident investigation. Nonetheless, the Court allowed for four-day remand.

SP Natha made the following statement regarding the investigation: “After interviewing the detained officer, more information is expected to be discovered. The Integrated Test Range (ITR) officer Balaram Dey was recently detained, and the Balasore police are doing everything they can to gather information on his financial dealings and assets “.