Chandigarh– A court in Hisar, Haryana, on Monday extended the judicial custody of social media influencer Jyoti Malhotra by two weeks. Malhotra, who was arrested last month on charges of espionage, appeared before the court virtually.
Malhotra, known for her YouTube channel Travel with JO, was taken into custody on May 16. She has been charged under the Official Secrets Act and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Her attorney, Kumar Mukesh, told reporters, “The court has extended her judicial remand by 14 days. The next hearing is scheduled for July 7.”
Following her arrest, Punjab Police claimed to have uncovered a broader espionage network involving another YouTuber, Jasbir Singh of Rupnagar, who operates the channel JaanMahal.
According to Punjab’s Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav, Singh had links with Shakir, alias Jutt Randhawa, a Pakistani intelligence operative reportedly connected to a terror-backed espionage network. Singh was also in contact with Malhotra and Ehsan-ur-Rahim, also known as Danish, a Pakistani national and former official at the Pakistan High Commission who was expelled from India.
Investigators say Singh attended the Pakistan National Day event in New Delhi on Danish’s invitation, where he met Pakistani army officers and bloggers. He also traveled to Pakistan three times—in 2020, 2021, and 2024. His electronic devices reportedly contain numerous Pakistani contacts, now under forensic analysis.
Following Malhotra’s arrest, Singh allegedly attempted to delete evidence of his communications with Pakistani intelligence operatives to evade detection.
In a related case, the Punjab Counter-Intelligence unit, working with Tarn Taran police, arrested Gagandeep Singh, alias Gagan, for passing on sensitive military information during Operation Sindoor. Gagan, a resident of Tarn Taran, was allegedly in direct contact with Pakistan-based Khalistani supporter Gopal Singh Chawla for five years, who facilitated his connection with ISI handlers.
The DGP said Gagan shared classified intelligence—including troop movements, strategic positions, and deployment plans—with Pakistani operatives. Two mobile devices recovered from him reportedly contain critical intelligence and contact information for over 20 ISI operatives. He is also believed to have received payments through Indian intermediaries. (Source: IANS)
