Overview

• Jyoti Malhotra, a travel vlogger from Hisar, Haryana, was arrested on May 17 under the Official Secrets Act for allegedly spying for Pakistan.
• Investigators claim Malhotra maintained contact with Pakistani intelligence operatives through encrypted platforms, saving their details under aliases to evade detection.
• Authorities allege she visited Pakistan twice in 2023, meeting intelligence operatives, and traveled to Bali with one of her handlers as part of her recruitment process.
• Her social media presence, including a YouTube channel with 377,000 subscribers, was allegedly used to promote a positive image of Pakistan in a coordinated influence operation.
• Malhotra is in five-day police remand as officials analyze her financial transactions, electronic devices, and potential links to a broader espionage network spanning Haryana and Punjab.