Local police are investigating her for potential ties to Pakistani operatives while she denies any wrongdoing.
### Indian Influencer Detained Over Alleged Espionage Links to Pakistan
### Indian Influencer Detained Over Alleged Espionage Links to Pakistan
An Indian YouTuber is arrested amidst suspicions of espionage, raising concern over bilateral relations.
In a startling turn of events, a travel influencer from Haryana, India, has been taken into custody under allegations of spying for Pakistan. Jyoti Malhotra, a social media personality with a substantial following of 377,000 subscribers on YouTube and over 133,000 on Instagram, has reportedly traveled to Pakistan multiple times, with her last visit occurring in March 2025.
Authorities claim that she maintained contact with a Pakistani High Commission official who was expelled from India earlier this month. Malhotra's father refuted these allegations, stating that her travels were conducted with the appropriate permissions. Known for describing herself as a "modern girl with old ideas," Malhotra has produced content exploring various countries including Bangladesh, China, and Indonesia, leading police to question the legitimacy of her funding.
The police’s investigation has revealed that Malhotra had potentially been communicating with Pakistani intelligence agents while also being scrutinized for her possible connections to a recent attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir. Shashank Kumar Sawan, the superintendent of police in Hisar, remarked that she was reportedly in touch with other content creators and had participated in sponsored trips to Pakistan.
This arrest follows rising tensions between India and Pakistan, particularly after India's military actions against what it termed "terror infrastructure" within Pakistan, in the wake of a violent incident involving tourists in Pahalgam. The ongoing conflict has seen both nations engage in military skirmishes, although a ceasefire was announced after a series of intense confrontations.
Malhotra's case underscores the complexity of security concerns within Indo-Pak relations, where charges of espionage and national security breaches have led to heightened scrutiny and arrests on both sides.
Authorities claim that she maintained contact with a Pakistani High Commission official who was expelled from India earlier this month. Malhotra's father refuted these allegations, stating that her travels were conducted with the appropriate permissions. Known for describing herself as a "modern girl with old ideas," Malhotra has produced content exploring various countries including Bangladesh, China, and Indonesia, leading police to question the legitimacy of her funding.
The police’s investigation has revealed that Malhotra had potentially been communicating with Pakistani intelligence agents while also being scrutinized for her possible connections to a recent attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir. Shashank Kumar Sawan, the superintendent of police in Hisar, remarked that she was reportedly in touch with other content creators and had participated in sponsored trips to Pakistan.
This arrest follows rising tensions between India and Pakistan, particularly after India's military actions against what it termed "terror infrastructure" within Pakistan, in the wake of a violent incident involving tourists in Pahalgam. The ongoing conflict has seen both nations engage in military skirmishes, although a ceasefire was announced after a series of intense confrontations.
Malhotra's case underscores the complexity of security concerns within Indo-Pak relations, where charges of espionage and national security breaches have led to heightened scrutiny and arrests on both sides.
