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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.
Indian Express
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Spying' for Pak: Vlogger Jyoti Malhotra sent to judicial custody
A district court here on Monday remanded travel vlogger Jyoti Malhotra, accused of spying for Pakistani intelligence agencies, in judicial custody . The 33-year-old had been in police remand for 10 days prior to that. The Haryana Police had on May 21 said that till now no such fact has come to light to show that the YouTuber had access to any military, defence or strategic information or that she was in contact with any terrorist organization. The police has not issued any updates in the matter since. Hisar SP Shashank Kumar Sawan earlier said that the accused was in contact with some people knowing they are Pakistan Intelligence Operatives (PIOs). 'But till now no such fact has come to light directly which can be said that the accused was in contact with any terrorist organization. No fact has come to light so far regarding the accused's involvement in any terrorist incidents,' added the SP. The SP said the police seized three mobile phones, a laptop and some other electronic devices from the accused. Malhotra has a YouTube channel called Travel with Jo with over 3,77,000 subscribers and an Instagram account with over 1,32,000 followers. 'She visited Pakistan multiple times and also went to China once. We are analysing her financial transactions and travel details. She was in touch with PIOs (Pakistan Intelligence Operatives). She did not have direct access to military or defence information, though Hisar is a strategic location,' the SP had shared. Sawan had said one of her Pakistan visits was 'sponsored'. 'She met some high-profile persons. Why and what information was shared; all these things are being probed.' The police also said she possibly 'fell into a trap for views and likes' and 'her travel details show more expenses than her known sources of income'.
Mint
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Did Haryana vlogger Jyoti Malhotra aid Pakistan before Pahalgam attack? Police reveal new leads
Did Haryana travel-vlogger Jyoti Malhotra 'help' Pakistan for Pahalgam terror attack? According to Shashank Kumar Sawan, Superintendent of Police in Hisar, 'They were developing her (Jyoti Malhotra)as an asset. She was in touch with other YouTube influencers, and they were also in touch with the PIOs. She used to go to Pakistan, like on sponsored trips. She was in Pakistan before the Pahalgam attack" "The investigation is on to establish linkages, if there are any. We are also investigating, as we have leads that other people were also involved with her.' the Haryana top cop added. Jyoti Malhotra, a Haryana-based travel vlogger with a popular YouTube channel 'Travel With Jo', was arrested last week on charges of espionage for allegedly sharing sensitive information with Pakistani intelligence agencies. The 34-year-old, who has over 3.7 lakh subscribers and a significant Instagram following, is currently under police remand as investigations into her alleged links with Pakistan intensify. Jyoti Malhotra's arrest comes amid heightened security concerns following the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on 22 April 2025. The assault claimed the lives of 26 people, including 25 tourists and a local resident, and was carried out by three terrorists, two of whom were foreign nationals. Despite extensive efforts by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Jammu and Kashmir Police, the attackers remain at large. Authorities have released sketches of the suspects and announced a reward of ₹ 20 lakh for information leading to their capture. The Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba's affiliate, The Resistance Front, claimed responsibility for the attack, which prompted India to launch Operation Sindoor targeting terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Jyoti Malhotra's alleged involvement has added a new dimension to the investigation. Police disclosed that she maintained regular contact with Pakistani nationals and intelligence operatives, including Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, who was recently expelled from India. Jyoti Malhotra reportedly attended events at the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi and posted content praising Pakistan on her social media platforms, including calling Lahore the 'cultural heart of Pakistan.' Authorities suspect her frequent trips to Pakistan were sponsored and part of a broader effort to cultivate her as an asset for Pakistani intelligence. The Haryana Police have charged Malhotra under the Official Secrets Act and other relevant laws for endangering India's sovereignty. The travel vlogger's electronic devices have been seized for forensic analysis, and investigations continue to uncover the extent of her network and involvement. This arrest is part of a wider crackdown on espionage activities in the region, with multiple individuals linked to Pakistani handlers detained in recent weeks.
Hindustan Times
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Jyoti Malhotra case: Police reveal how influencers are being recruited to ‘spy' for Pakistan
Amid the arrest of social media influencer Jyoti Malhotra for allegedly spying for Pakistan, an official on Sunday revealed how such influencers are recruited for spying. Hisar superintendent of police (SP) Shashank Kumar Sawan told the media that Pakistan's Intelligence operatives are using Indian social media influencers to 'push their narrative'. "Modern warfare is not only fought on the border. The PIOs are trying to recruit some social media influencers, and they use that to push their narrative. We received inputs from the central agencies, and we arrested Jyoti Malhotra. She had visited Pakistan multiple times and China once. She was in contact with the PIOs. We have taken her on a 5-day police remand,' Sawan told the media. The police officer also revealed that Jyoti Malhotra was allegedly in contact with the Pakistani Intelligence Operatives during the recent conflict between the two countries, which escalated in the aftermath of India's Operation Sindoor. 'We are analysing her financial details. During the conflict (Indo-Pak), she was in touch with the PIOs... Her travel details are defying her total income," he added. Travel blogger Jyoti Malhotra was arrested for allegedly spying and passing sensitive information to Pakistani operatives, marking the third arrest from Haryana this week after India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire. Malhotra, a resident of Hisar, was arrested after she confessed to sharing sensitive information with Pakistani operatives. She was booked under Sections 3 and 5 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923, and Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Act. She has been placed under a five-day police remand. An FIR was registered at the Hisar Civil Lines police station based on a complaint lodged by sub-inspector Sanjay. According to the FIR, the blogger visited the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi in 2023, where she came into contact with Ehsan-ur-Rahim, alias Danish, a staffer at the Pakistan High Commission (PHC) in New Delhi. She allegedly shared sensitive information concerning Indian locations and was actively used to project a positive image of Pakistan on social media. Her father, Harish Malhotra, stated that his daughter had visited the neighbouring country to shoot videos and questioned why she could not contact her friends living in the country if she wished to do so.
Time of India
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
High court issues notice to Hisar SP, Haryana government on plea challenging Karnal court order
Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana high court has issued a notice to IPS officer Shashank Kumar Sawan , posted as Hisar SP, and the Haryana govt on a plea for action against the IPS officer according to the order passed by Karnal judicial magistrate first class (JMIC). Justice Sandeep Moudgil issued the notice after taking cognisance of a petition filed by Tanuj Jaglan. The petitioner challenged the order dated Aug 22, 2024, passed by the additional sessions judge, Karnal, in a case titled Shashank Kumar Sawan versus state of Haryana against the order dated April 24 passed by Karnal JMIC. The JMIC ordered the case to be sent to the chief judicial magistrate, Karnal, for proceedings against the then Karnal SP, Shashank Kumar Sawan, for the commission of offences under Section 166 of IPC (public servant disobeying the law) and Section 174 of IPC (non-attendance in obedience to an order from a public servant). The counsel for the petitioner contended that Sawan, while posted as the Rewari SP, displayed misconduct which is per se inadmissible, making him liable for offences punishable under Section 166 and 174 IPC. The main contention of the petitioner is that the SP defied the directions of the lower court, Karnal. According to the petitioner, the impugned order, whereby the order dated April 24, 2024, passed by the then Karnal JMIC has been set aside, is wholly unsustainable in law. "The impugned order reminds one of some erstwhile proverbial maharaja rendering decisions on his own whims and fancies without the need to pass a speaking order. A perusal of the impugned order in relation to the order dated April 24, 2024, reveals that the impugned order is telegraphic. Perusal of the impugned order reveals that the public prosecutor did not open his mouth during the course of arguments and maintained almost absolute silence. It does not require rocket science to know who gagged him. The JMIC's order, quashed by the additional sessions judge Karnal, was required to be upheld, but the same has been set aside illegally," the petitioner submitted. The SP, as well as the state, has been directed to respond by May 27 on the contentions raised in the petition. MSID:: 121215533 413 |
