YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra Faces 14-Day Judicial Custody Over Espionage Allegations

Judicial Custody for Jyoti Malhotra

In Hisar, Haryana, YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra has been placed in judicial custody for 14 days after being arrested on espionage charges linked to Pakistan. This decision was made by a local court following the conclusion of her police remand.

Previously, Malhotra spent nine days in police custody, where she underwent extensive questioning by local law enforcement and central intelligence agencies regarding her alleged involvement in spying activities. This marks her third remand since her arrest.

The 36-year-old content creator was taken into custody on May 16 under the Official Secrets Act and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. She is among 12 individuals apprehended in a broader investigation into a suspected espionage network operating across Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.

Investigations have indicated that Malhotra maintained contact with Ehsan-ur-Rahim, also known as Danish, who worked at the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi. Danish was expelled from India on May 13 due to suspicions of espionage.

Sources reveal that various intelligence agencies, including the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the Intelligence Bureau, and Military Intelligence, have also interrogated Malhotra.

Reports suggest that she has traveled to several countries, including Pakistan and Indonesia, in recent years.

Authorities suspect that she may have been cultivated by Pakistani intelligence as a potential asset.

It is alleged that Malhotra was in communication with Danish during a four-day military standoff between India and Pakistan that followed the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22.

During the investigation, police managed to recover deleted conversations from her mobile devices and laptop.

Additionally, data from her three mobile phones and a laptop, which were sent for forensic analysis, has been retrieved, according to police sources.

"Approximately 10-12 terabytes of data have been recovered, and further investigations are ongoing," they stated.

However, the Hisar Superintendent of Police has indicated that no evidence has yet been found to suggest that Malhotra accessed any classified defense or strategic information, nor have any connections to terrorist organizations or direct involvement in terrorist activities been established.

The investigation into the case is still active.