Indian YouTuber arrested for allegedly 'spying' for Pakistan

In a surprising turn of events, a YouTuber from India named Jyoti Malhotra has been arrested on suspicions of spying for Pakistan. Jyoti, who is known for her travel videos and has a significant following on social media, hails from Haryana, a northern state in India. The police allege that she made several trips to Pakistan, with her most recent visit occurring in March 2025. Authorities claim that she was in contact with a Pakistani official from the High Commission in India, who was expelled from the country earlier this month due to alleged inappropriate activities. Jyoti's father has come forward to deny the accusations, asserting that she obtained the necessary permissions for her travels. On her social media profiles, Jyoti describes herself as a 'modern girl with old ideas' and boasts an impressive 377,000 subscribers on YouTube and 133,000 followers on Instagram. However, the police are investigating how she funded her extensive travels, which included visits to various countries such as Bangladesh, China, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia, in addition to numerous locations within India. The authorities have raised concerns that her travel expenses do not align with her known sources of income. Furthermore, police reports suggest that Jyoti maintained contact with individuals linked to Pakistani intelligence and had ongoing communication with a Pakistani citizen. The investigation has also extended to potential connections between Jyoti and a recent attack in Pahalgam, as stated by Shashank Kumar Sawan, the superintendent of police in Hisar district, Haryana. He mentioned that they have leads on other individuals who may have collaborated with Jyoti, although she does not have direct access to military or defense information. According to Mr. Sawan, 'She was in touch with other YouTube influencers. She used to go to Pakistan on sponsored trips. ' Jyoti's arrest follows the Indian government's decision to expel Ahsan-ur-Rahim, the Pakistani official she was allegedly in contact with, on May 13. The government claimed that he engaged in activities that were not consistent with his official status in India. In a reciprocal move, Pakistan also requested that an Indian embassy staff member in Islamabad leave the country for similar reasons. The police complaint indicates that Jyoti first met Ahsan-ur-Rahim in 2023 when she visited the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi to apply for a visa to travel to Pakistan. Her last video related to Pakistan was uploaded in March, showcasing her attendance at a Ramadan dinner at the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi. In her other videos from Pakistan, she is seen visiting Hindu and Sikh temples, exploring local markets, and interacting with the local population. Arrests related to espionage allegations are not uncommon in both India and Pakistan. Jyoti's arrest comes amid heightened military tensions between the two nations earlier this month. On May 7, India conducted strikes against what it referred to as 'terror infrastructure' within Pakistan, following a deadly militant attack on tourists in Pahalgam. Pakistan has denied any involvement in these attacks. After four days of intense clashes between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, both countries agreed to a ceasefire on May 10, a development that was announced by US President Donald Trump.