Haryana Police have arrested Jyoti Malhotra, a well-known YouTuber and travel influencer, on allegations of espionage for Pakistan and maintaining suspicious connections with Pakistani intelligence operatives.
The arrest, confirmed by authorities, comes amid rising military tensions between India and Pakistan earlier this month.
According to officials, Malhotra had traveled to Pakistan multiple times, with her most recent visit in March 2025. She is accused of maintaining contact with Ahsan-ur-Rahim, a Pakistan High Commission official who was expelled from India on May 13 over espionage allegations.
Speaking to the press, Shashank Kumar Sawan, Superintendent of Police in Hisar, stated that Malhotra had been in regular communication with Pakistani operatives. Authorities believe she traveled to Pakistan on sponsored trips and may be linked to a broader espionage network.
Malhotra is also under investigation for potential ties to the Pahalgam attack, which claimed several lives in Indian-administered Kashmir earlier this month.
Her father has vehemently denied the accusations, insisting that she traveled to Pakistan with proper visas and permissions. “She is not a spy. She is a travel vlogger who documented her experiences,” he told reporters.
Malhotra describes herself on social media as a “modern girl with old ideas.” She has a substantial online presence, with 377,000 YouTube subscribers and over 133,000 Instagram followers. Her content features travel experiences across India and abroad, including trips to Bangladesh, China, Thailand, UAE, and Indonesia.
However, police have raised questions about the funding of her international travels, suggesting that her lifestyle does not match her known sources of income.
Investigators claim Malhotra first met Ahsan-ur-Rahim in 2023 at the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi while applying for a visa. Her last video from Pakistan, uploaded in March, showed her attending a Ramadan dinner at the High Commission. Other videos feature her visiting temples, exploring local markets, and engaging with residents in Pakistan.
Malhotra’s arrest comes amid heightened diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan, marked by the expulsion of embassy staff over espionage accusations.
Earlier this month, on May 7, India launched airstrikes on what it described as “terror infrastructure” inside Pakistan, citing the Pahalgam attack as provocation. Pakistan denied involvement, and after days of border skirmishes, a ceasefire was brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump on May 10.
