Indian travel vlogger Jyoti Malhotra has been arrested on allegations of spying for Pakistan, amidst escalating tensions between both nations.
Malhotra, a well-known YouTuber from Hisar district in Haryana, was taken into custody by Indian authorities who claim she was involved in espionage activities during her visit to Pakistan.
The charges against her include alleged contact with a Pakistani diplomat and a previous visit to Pahalgam three months prior to the recent attack in the region.
Her travels to Lahore, particularly her video blog filmed in the bustling Anarkali Bazaar, have reportedly drawn the attention of Indian authorities, especially in the context of heightened tensions following the Pahalgam incident.
Malhotra, who operates the YouTube channel “Travel with Jo” with over 382,000 subscribers, is recognized for her travel vlogs documenting her journeys across India and abroad.
She has previously traveled to China, where she filmed a vlog aboard a Chinese train, as well as to Indonesia, Bhutan, and other regions. Her videos frequently highlight local culture, landscapes, and transportation systems.
According to reports, her praise of Chinese infrastructure and scenic content from Indonesia also drew criticism from pro-government media and commentators.
Her recent visit to Pakistan, however, became the central focus of accusations, with media outlets aligned with the Indian government aggressively pushing narratives against her.
Observers note that Malhotra’s case reflects a concerning shift in India’s internal climate, where travel content and neutral engagements are increasingly being scrutinized through the lens of political loyalty.
Her arrest has sparked widespread concern across Indian social media, with many warning that criticism of government policy or cultural openness is becoming progressively unsafe for independent creators and influencers.
The arrest is also perceived as part of a broader campaign to align all media narratives with the current government’s Hindutva ideology, thereby limiting space for alternative perspectives or cross-border engagement.
