Latest news with #JyotiRani
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Court dismisses bail plea of travel vlogger held for spying
A local court in Haryana's Hisar on Wednesday dismissed the bail application of travel vlogger Jyoti Rani, who was arrested over three weeks ago on charges of spying and passing on secret information to Pakistani intelligence operatives. Moving the bail application in the court of Judicial Magistrate Sunil Kumar, Ms. Rani's counsel, Kumar Mukesh, had argued that the FIR in the case was based on the interrogation of the accused prior to her arrest and was 'liable to be quashed, as it in violation of Article 20(3) of the Constitution of India'. Opposing her bail plea, the police contended that the accused, if released, could influence the investigation.
The Hindu
27-05-2025
- The Hindu
Travel vlogger Jyoti Rani, arrested for espionage, remanded in judicial custody
Hisar travel vlogger Jyoti Rani, arrested by the Haryana Police earlier this month on charges of espionage, was on Monday remanded in two weeks' judicial custody. She was produced before the court on completion of her four days' extended police remand. Superintendent of Police, Hisar, Shashank Kumar Sawan said the police were yet to find any direct evidence to suggest her links with terror organisations or access to any sensitive defence and military information, and the Forensic Science Laboratory report of her phones and laptop, received by the police, were being examined to ascertain the information shared by her with Pakistan intelligence operatives. Ms. Rani, who runs a YouTube channel 'Travel With JO', was in contact with Pakistan intelligence operatives during the India-Pakistan conflict, and the deleted chats and videos retrieved by the FSL could throw light on the information shared by her with them, say the police. She was arrested on May 17 in a case registered under Sections 3 and 5 of the Official Secrets Act and Section 152 of the BNS at Hisar Civil Lines police station.
The Hindu
23-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Ujjain police questions vlogger Jyoti Rani over Mahakaleshwar visit
Days after YouTube content creator Jyoti Rani was arrested on charges of espionage, a team from Madhya Pradesh Police questioned her over a visit to Ujjain's Mahakaleshwar temple in April 2024, police officials confirmed on Friday. The 34-year-old, who was taken into custody by Hisar police on May 17 for allegedly spying for Pakistan, had visited the temple town last year. A five-member team from Ujjain Police subsequently travelled to Haryana earlier this week to question her, said Additional Superintendent of Police, Ujjain, Nitesh Bhargava. 'We had found that she had also visited Ujjain in the past and since it's a sensitive and religious city, we wanted to scrutinise her activities here. The team is now returning from Haryana and nothing suspicious has been found so far,' Mr. Bhargava told The Hindu. He added that Ms. Rani had visited the Mahakaleshwar temple as 'a regular devotee in a queue', and that the local police started monitoring her her activities in Ujjain since her arrest. The local police remain in coordination with investigating agencies handling the larger espionage case. Ms. Rani's visits to Pakistan and the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi are under investigation. Hisar police have alleged that she was being groomed as an 'asset' by Pakistani intelligence officials. Her arrest comes amid heightened security concerns following the Pahalgam terror attack, with multiple arrests made across Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh in recent weeks for alleged espionage-related activities.
The Hindu
22-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Jyoti Rani's police custody extended by four days; vlogger didn't have access to secret information, says Police
Hisar travel vlogger Jyoti Rani's police custody was on Thursday (May 22, 2025) extended for four days. Jyoti, arrested on charges of espionage last week, was produced before the court on completion of five days police remand. Statement of Hisar police Superintendent of Police, Hisar, Shashank Kumar Sawan said that the vlogger didn't have access to secret information related to defence and military, but the FSL report of her mobile phone and laptop was awaited to ascertain the details of information shared by her with Pakistan Intelligence operatives. In a press statement on Thursday (May 22, 2025) the Hisar police maintained there was no direct evidence to suggest that she was in touch with any terrorist organisation. Some central agencies were also interrogating her, but she was in the custody of the Hisar Police, said the statement. It also refuted several rumours being spread in the media regarding the revelations made by her during interrogation According to the FIR, the woman purportedly told the police during interrogation that she ran a Youtube channel, 'Travel With JO', and met Ehsan-Ur-Rahim alias Danish two years ago when she went to the Pakistan High Commission seeking a visa to the country. She stayed in contact with Rahim over phone and twice visited Pakistan where she met his acquaintance Ali Ahwan, who arranged for her stay and travel in the country.
Indian Express
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Daily subject-wise quiz: Polity and Governance MCQs on Judge of the Supreme Court, PM SHRI scheme and more (Week 111)
UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative of daily subject-wise quizzes. These quizzes are designed to help you revise some of the most important topics from the static part of the syllabus. Attempt today's subject quiz on Polity and Governance to check your progress. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for May 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at With reference to the Official Secrets Act, consider the following statements: 1. The act has its roots in the British colonial era. 2. The original version was the Indian Official Secrets Act was brought in with the main objective of muzzling newspapers opposing the Raj's policies. 3. Section 3 deals with 'penalties for spying', and under the ambit is anyone who, 'for any purpose prejudicial to the safety or interests of the State. How many of the statements given above are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None Explanation — Jyoti Rani, a Haryana-based travel blogger, was detained on May 16 for allegedly spying for Pakistan's intelligence agents during Operation Sindoor. Rani was charged under Sections 3 and 5 of the Official Secrets Act and Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. — The Official Secrets Act of 1923 has its roots in the British colonial era. The first version was the Indian Official Secrets Act (Act XIV), which was enacted in 1889 with the primary goal of silencing newspapers that opposed the Raj's policies. Hence, statements 1 and 2 are correct. — During Lord Curzon's tenure as Viceroy of India, it was updated and strengthened to become the Indian Official Secrets Act of 1904. In 1923, a newer version was announced. — Section 3 deals with 'penalties for spying', and under the ambit is anyone who, 'for any purpose prejudicial to the safety or interests of the State, approaches, inspects, passes over or is in the vicinity of, or enters, any prohibited place; or makes any sketch, plan, model, or note which is calculated to be or might be or is intended to be, directly or indirectly, useful to an enemy; or obtains, collects, records or publishes or communicates to any other person any secret official code or password, or any sketch, plan, model, article or note or other document or information' that could be useful to an enemy. Hence, statement 3 is correct. — Such an offence is 'punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend, where the offence is committed in relation to any work of defence, arsenal, naval, military or air force establishment or station, mine, minefield, factory, dockyard, camp, ship or aircraft or otherwise in relation to the naval, military or air force affairs of Government or in relation to any secret official code, to fourteen years and in other cases to three years.' Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer. With reference to the PM SHRI scheme, consider the following statements: 1. It is a scheme under the Union Ministry of School Education and Literacy. 2. It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme. 3. It aims to transform only the primary schools and not higher secondary schools. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Explanation — The Kerala government has decided to approach the Supreme Court against the Centre's decision to withhold the release of Rs 1,500 crore to the state under various centrally sponsored education schemes. — PM Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) is an initiative run by the Union Ministry of School Education and Literacy. It intends to improve over 14,500 existing schools across the country, transforming them into model institutions that exemplify the spirit of the National Education Policy (NEP 2020). Hence, statement 1 is correct. — According to a September 2022 press release from the Centre, the initiative 'is to be implemented as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with a total project cost of Rs 27360 crore, including a central share of Rs 18128 crore for the period of five years from year 2022-23 to 2026-27.' States will bear 40% of the project costs, as with any other Centre scheme. Hence, statement 2 is correct. — So far, 12,400 schools from primary to higher secondary levels in 670 districts around the country have joined the scheme. Hence, statement 3 is not correct. — However, the scheme excludes schools run by state bodies in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. This is because these states have declined to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Union School Education Ministry to carry out the PM SHRI plan. — The Kerala government claims to have already implemented many parts of the PM SHRI plan. On the infrastructure front, Kerala schools, both government and aided, have achieved significant development over the last nine years. Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer. In order to be appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court, a person must be a citizen of India and must have been: 1. for at least five years, a Judge of a High Court or of two or more such Courts in succession 2. an Advocate of a High Court or of two or more such Courts in succession for at least 10 years 3. in the opinion of the President, a distinguished jurist. Select the correct answer using the codes given below: (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Explanation — Justice Bhushan Ramakrishna Gavai takes oath as the 52nd Chief Justice of India (CJI), becoming only the second Dalit in the history of the republic to rise to the very top of the Indian judiciary. — The Supreme Court of India comprises the Chief Justice and 33 other Judges appointed by the President of India. Supreme Court Judges retire upon attaining the age of 65 years. — To be appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court, a person must be a citizen of India and have served as a Judge of a High Court or two or more such Courts in succession for at least five years, or as an Advocate of a High Court or two or more such Courts in succession for at least ten years, or be considered a distinguished jurist by the President. — There are provisions in place to appoint a High Court Judge as an Ad-hoc Judge of the Supreme Court, as well as to allow retired Supreme Court or High Court Judges to sit and act as Judges of that Court. Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer. (Other Source: According to Article 201 of the Constitution of India, when a Bill is reserved by a Governor for the consideration of the President, the President can: 1. either gives assent to the Bill or can withhold assent 2. can direct the Governor to return the Bill to the House in case of a Money Bill 3. When a Bill is so returned, the House or Houses shall reconsider it accordingly within a period of one month from the date of receipt of such message. Select the correct answer using the codes given below: (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 only (c) 1 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Explanation — When a Bill is reserved by a Governor for the consideration of the President, the President shall declare either that he assents to the Bill or that he withholds assent therefrom: Hence, statement 1 is correct. — Provided that, where the Bill is not a Money Bill, the President may direct the Governor to return the Bill to the House or, as the case may be, the Houses of the Legislature of the State together with such a message as is mentioned in the first proviso to article 200; and, when a Bill is so returned, the House or Houses shall reconsider it accordingly within a period of six months from the date of receipt of such message; and, if it is again passed by the House or Houses. Hence, statements 2 and 3 are not correct. Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer. (Other Source: Constitution of India) Which of the following articles of the Constitution of India provides for the protection of monuments and places, and objects of national importance? (a) Article 39 (b) Article 47 (c) Article 51-A (d) Article 49 Explanation — Article 49 of the Constitution of India provides for the protection of monuments and places, and objects of national importance. — It shall be the obligation of the State to protect every monument or place or object of artistic or historic interest, to be of national importance, from spoliation, disfigurement, destruction, removal, disposal or export, as the case may be. Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer. (Source: Constitution of India) Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 109 and 110) Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 110) Daily subject-wise quiz — Science and Technology (Week 110) Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 110) Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 110) Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 110) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X.
