By News18
YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, who was arrested in May on charges related to espionage, appeared before the Hisar court on Monday via video conferencing. The court extended her judicial custody by 14 days, ordering her to remain in jail until July 21.
Malhotra was taken into custody by the Hisar police from her residence on May 16. She remains under investigation for her alleged links to Pakistani intelligence operatives.
Jyoti Malhotra was arrested by Hisar Police on May 16 on suspicion of espionage, just days after the Indian armed forces carried out the Operation Sindoor strikes targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Her arrest came amid heightened national security concerns and is believed to be linked to a broader investigation into alleged cross-border intelligence activities.
Following her arrest, Malhotra was initially remanded to five days of police custody by the court. Upon completion of that term, investigators sought additional time for interrogation, citing the need to probe deeper into her suspected links and digital communications. The court subsequently extended her police custody by another four days before transitioning the case to judicial custody.
Why Was Jyoti Malhotra Arrested?
Jyoti Malhotra was arrested from her residence in New Aggarsain Extension by Hisar Police on May 16 under serious charges related to national security. She has been booked under the Official Secrets Act as well as relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)鈥擨ndia鈥檚 updated criminal code. According to police claims, Malhotra was allegedly being cultivated as an intelligence asset by Pakistani operatives.
Investigators say Malhotra had been in regular contact with Ehsan-ur-Rahim, also known by the alias Danish, a staff member at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. The connection reportedly began in November 2023, and intensified over time. Danish was expelled by the Indian government on May 13鈥攋ust days before Malhotra鈥檚 arrest鈥攐n accusations of espionage. Authorities believe her growing proximity to high-level Pakistani contacts posed a potential threat to India鈥檚 internal security, prompting swift legal and investigative action.
Jyoti Malhotra鈥檚 Alleged Links To Pakistan
Malhotra鈥檚 alleged ties with Pakistan extend beyond digital communications. According to police sources, she had travelled to Pakistan three times, sharing detailed vlogs from these visits on her popular YouTube channel Travel with Jo and Instagram handle. One particular video shot in Lahore has gone viral after her arrest, raising eyebrows over the special treatment and security she appeared to receive during her time there.
The footage shows Malhotra exploring the streets of Lahore, speaking on camera about her experiences as an Indian traveller. However, what stood out was the armed security detail that accompanied her throughout. In one segment of the video, traffic is seen being halted by officials to ensure her movement without disruption, a level of protection typically reserved for high-profile visitors. These details have further fuelled suspicions about the nature of her visits and her connections with Pakistani authorities.