Muzaffarabad / Hisar / New Delhi: Indian police have arrested Jyoti Malhotra, a prominent travel YouTuber from Haryana, on suspicions of spying for Pakistan—a case that has sparked debate across the subcontinent and raised fresh tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours.
According to Haryana police, Malhotra allegedly maintained continuous contact with individuals linked to Pakistani intelligence, including a Pakistan High Commission official who was expelled from India earlier this month. Authorities claim she travelled to Pakistan several times, most recently in March 2025, where she attended cultural and religious events and appeared in videos from Hindu and Sikh temples.
The arrest follows increased military friction between India and Pakistan earlier this month, including cross-border strikes and a subsequent ceasefire announcement on May 10, brokered by the United States.
Who is Jyoti Malhotra?
Known for her vibrant social media presence, Jyoti Malhotra describes herself as a “modern girl with old ideas.” Her YouTube channel boasts over 377,000 subscribers, and her Instagram account has more than 133,000 followers. Her content features travel vlogs from across South and Southeast Asia—including destinations such as China, Bangladesh, Thailand, the UAE, and Indonesia—alongside religious and cultural tourism in India.
Despite her popularity, investigators have raised questions about how she funded her frequent international travels, pointing to what they describe as a lack of transparency about her income sources.
Alleged Links to Pakistan
Police allege Malhotra established contact with Pakistani officials during a visa application process in 2023 at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. Among her contacts was Ahsan-ur-Rahim, a High Commission official who was ordered to leave India on May 13 for “activities incompatible with his diplomatic status.”
Her last known video featuring Pakistan was uploaded in March 2025, where she documented attending a Ramadan dinner at the Pakistan High Commission. She has also posted videos of her travels through Pakistan, engaging with locals, and visiting sites of religious significance.
According to police in Hisar district, Malhotra may also be under investigation for possible links to the Pahalgam attack, a recent militant strike that killed Indian and foreign tourists in Jammu and Kashmir. No formal charges connecting her to the attack have been filed as yet.
Statements and Denials
Malhotra’s father has denied all allegations, asserting that she travelled to Pakistan through legal channels and obtained the necessary permissions from Indian authorities. He maintains her visits were cultural and journalistic in nature, aimed at promoting peace and cross-border understanding.
Meanwhile, police claim they are examining her communications with other YouTubers and are tracking potential collaborators inside India. “She used to go to Pakistan on sponsored trips,” said Hisar police superintendent Shashank Kumar Sawan in a statement to ANI news agency.
Diplomatic Fallout
The case has added a layer of tension to already strained diplomatic ties between India and Pakistan. After India expelled Ahsan-ur-Rahim, Pakistan responded by ordering an Indian diplomatic staff member in Islamabad to return home, citing similar violations.
Arrests over espionage suspicions are not uncommon between the two countries. However, the involvement of a social media influencer—a figure outside conventional intelligence circles—has brought a modern twist to a longstanding geopolitical rivalry.
The Kashmir Tension
This arrest comes just weeks after India claimed to have conducted “surgical strikes” on what it described as terror infrastructure inside Pakistan, following the Pahalgam attack. Pakistan denied any involvement in the incident.
Both countries have since agreed to a ceasefire. Yet, the Malhotra case is likely to prolong diplomatic unease and amplify debates on digital surveillance, cross-border interaction, and the politicization of content creators in South Asia.
