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Indian police have arrested Jyoti Malhotra, a YouTuber from the northern state of Haryana, on suspicion of spying for Pakistan. Malhotra, a travel influencer with 377,000 YouTube subscribers and 133,000 Instagram followers, allegedly visited Pakistan multiple times, with her most recent trip taking place in March 2025.
Authorities in Haryana claim that Malhotra was in contact with a Pakistani High Commission official who was expelled from India earlier this month. However, Malhotra’s father has denied the espionage allegations, stating that she traveled to Pakistan legally after obtaining the necessary permissions.
Malhotra, who describes herself as a "modern girl with old ideas" on her social media profiles, has documented her travels to countries such as Bangladesh, China, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia. She has also produced content on various Indian destinations and religious sites. However, police are questioning how she financed her international travel, considering her apparent income sources.
According to law enforcement, Malhotra maintained continuous contact with Pakistani intelligence operatives and a Pakistani citizen. Police are also probing possible links between Malhotra and the Pahalgam attack, said Shashank Kumar Sawan, the superintendent of police in Hisar district, Haryana.
Authorities suggest that Malhotra was in contact with other YouTube influencers and undertook sponsored trips to Pakistan. Her arrest follows the Indian government’s expulsion of Ahsan-ur-Rahim, the Pakistani High Commission official allegedly associated with Malhotra, on 13 May. The expulsion was based on accusations that Rahim engaged in activities "not in keeping with his official status in India."
Pakistan retaliated by ordering an Indian embassy staff member in Islamabad to leave the country, alleging similar misconduct.
Police reports indicate that Malhotra first met Rahim in 2023 when she visited the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi to apply for a visa. Her final video on Pakistan, uploaded in March, shows her attending a Ramadan dinner at the High Commission in Delhi. In other videos, Malhotra is seen exploring Hindu and Sikh temples, local markets, and interacting with Pakistani residents.
Arrests over spying allegations are not uncommon in both India and Pakistan, particularly during periods of heightened military tension. Malhotra’s arrest follows a series of deadly clashes between the two nuclear-armed neighbors earlier this month. On 7 May, India launched strikes on what it termed "terror infrastructure" in Pakistan, days after a militant attack on tourists in Pahalgam, a scenic area in Indian-administered Kashmir. Pakistan has denied involvement in the attack.
Following days of conflict, both countries agreed to a ceasefire on 10 May, which was announced by then-US President Donald Trump.
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