Court Denies Bail to Social Media Influencer Jyoti Malhotra in Espionage Case

Court Proceedings Against Jyoti Malhotra

A court in Haryana has refused to grant bail to social media influencer Jyoti Malhotra, who was arrested last month on espionage charges. The Hisar police took Malhotra into custody on May 16 under suspicions of spying, subsequently placing her in police remand for five days. Following the completion of this remand, the court extended her custody for an additional four days to facilitate further questioning by the police. On May 26, she was then sent to judicial custody for 14 days.

Reasons Behind Malhotra's Arrest

Malhotra was apprehended in the New Aggarsain Extension area, with charges filed under the Official Secrets Act and provisions of the Indian Penal Code. Authorities allege that she was being cultivated by Pakistani intelligence agencies as an asset. Reports indicate that since November 2023, she had been in contact with Ehsan-ur-Rehman, also known as Danish, an employee of the Pakistani High Commission. It is noted that India expelled Danish on May 13 due to his alleged involvement in espionage activities.

Who is Jyoti Malhotra?

Jyoti Malhotra, a resident of Hisar, operates a YouTube channel titled 'Travel with Jo.' The 33-year-old influencer boasts 377,000 subscribers on YouTube and 132,000 followers on Instagram. She has traveled to Pakistan three times, sharing videos of her trips on her social media platforms. Following her arrest, videos related to her visit to Lahore have gone viral, reportedly showcasing the heavy security she received during her travels in the neighboring country.