YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra will stay in judicial custody till July 21 in the ongoing espionage case. A Delhi court extended her remand after hearing submissions related to national security concerns and pending investigation.
YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, arrested in May on espionage charges, appeared before the Hisar court on Monday via video conferencing.
The court has extended her judicial custody by 14 days, requiring her to remain in jail until July 21.
Malhotra was apprehended by the Hisar police at her home on May 16 and is currently under investigation for alleged ties to Pakistani intelligence operatives. Her arrest occurred shortly after the Indian armed forces conducted Operation Sindoor, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
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This incident heightened national security concerns and is believed to be part of a larger investigation into suspected cross-border intelligence activities.
After her arrest, the court initially placed Malhotra in police custody for five days. When that period ended, investigators requested more time for questioning, citing the need for deeper inquiry into her suspected connections and digital communications.
The court then extended her police custody for an additional four days before transitioning her case to judicial custody.
Jyoti Malhotra was taken into custody by Hisar Police from her residence in New Aggarsain Extension on May 16 due to serious charges related to national security. She has been charged under the Official Secrets Act and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), India’s updated criminal code.
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According to police reports, Malhotra was allegedly being groomed as an intelligence asset by Pakistani operatives.
Investigators indicate that Malhotra had maintained regular contact with Ehsan-ur-Rahim, who is also known as Danish, a staff member at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. Their connection reportedly began in November 2023 and intensified over time.
Danish was expelled by the Indian government on May 13 just days prior to Malhotra’s arrest on accusations of espionage. Authorities believe her increasing closeness to high-level Pakistani contacts posed a potential threat to India’s internal security, prompting swift legal and investigative measures.
Malhotra’s alleged connections with Pakistan go beyond digital interactions. According to police sources, she had visited Pakistan three times, sharing detailed vlogs of these trips on her popular YouTube channel, Travel with Jo, and her Instagram account. One particular video filmed in Lahore has gained significant attention following her arrest, raising questions about the special treatment and security she appeared to receive during her time there.
The footage captures Malhotra exploring Lahore’s streets, discussing her experiences as an Indian traveller.
Notably, she was accompanied by an armed security detail throughout her visit. In one segment of the video, traffic was stayed by officials to allow her uninterrupted movement, a level of protection generally reserved for high-profile visitors.
These elements have further fueled suspicions regarding the nature of her visits and her associations with Pakistani authorities.