YouTuber and social media influencer Jyoti Malhotra, accused of spying for Pakistani agents, is set to appear before a court in Hisar as her four-day police remand comes to an end. Jyoti Malhotra is among 12 individuals arrested earlier this month in connection with a suspected espionage ring allegedly linked to Pakistan. While investigations are ongoing, authorities have yet to find direct evidence connecting her to sensitive military secrets, although she is believed to have had contact with Pakistani intelligence operatives.
Extended Police Remand and Investigation Details
Jyoti Malhotra, 33, was taken into custody from Hisar’s New Aggarsain Extension area under charges related to espionage. The local court had initially approved a five-day police remand, which was extended by another four days recently to allow further investigation. Jyoti Malhotra is one of a dozen suspects arrested from Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh as part of a wider probe into a spy network with alleged Pakistan links.
Hisar police have clarified that despite the ongoing investigation, there is no evidence so far that Jyoti Malhotra had access to military or defense secrets. However, officials stated that she maintained contact with individuals known to be Pakistani intelligence agents. “We have found no proof of her involvement in terror activities or connections with any terrorist organizations. There is also no document indicating she intended to marry a Person of Indian Origin (PIO) or convert her religion,” said the Hisar Superintendent of Police.
Forensic Examination and Wider Security Probe
Authorities have seized three mobile phones and a laptop from Jyoti Malhotra, which are undergoing forensic analysis. Police are also investigating four of her bank accounts for any suspicious transactions. Besides local police, national agencies such as the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Intelligence Bureau (IB), and military intelligence have also interrogated her under sections of the Official Secrets Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Investigations have revealed that Jyoti Malhotra traveled to countries including Pakistan, China, and Bangladesh in recent years. Intelligence suggests Pakistani operatives attempted to recruit her as an informant. She was reportedly in communication with Ehsan-ur-Rahim, also known as Danish, an official at the Pakistani High Commission expelled by India for espionage activities earlier this month. This contact reportedly continued during a tense military standoff between India and Pakistan following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam.
Jyoti Malhotra’s family has expressed frustration over the repeated extensions of her police remand. Her father questioned the authorities, asking what new evidence they expect to find after multiple remand periods with no significant findings.
Jyoti Malhotra runs a travel-focused YouTube channel called “Travel with JO,” which made her a known figure on social media before her arrest. The case continues to develop as law enforcement agencies deepen their probe into the alleged spy network.
