Indian authorities have arrested Jyoti Malhotra, a popular YouTuber and travel influencer from Haryana, on allegations of espionage for Pakistan, according to Haryana Police officials.

Malhotra, who boasts 377,000 YouTube subscribers and over 133,000 Instagram followers, is accused of maintaining suspicious links with Pakistani intelligence operatives, particularly with Ahsan-ur-Rahim, a Pakistan High Commission official who was expelled from India on May 13 over espionage concerns.

Superintendent of Police in Hisar, Shashank Kumar Sawan, told the press that Malhotra had traveled to Pakistan several times, with her most recent visit occurring in March 2025. Authorities claim she was in continuous communication with Pakistani operatives and received sponsorship for her trips.

"We are investigating her potential links to the Pahalgam attack in Indian-administered Kashmir earlier this month, which resulted in several tourist casualties," Sawan stated.

The arrest comes amid heightened military tensions between India and Pakistan. On May 7, India conducted airstrikes on what it described as "terror infrastructure" inside Pakistan, claiming it was in response to the Pahalgam attack. Pakistan denied involvement, and after several days of border skirmishes, a ceasefire was brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump on May 10.

Malhotra's father has vehemently denied all accusations against his daughter, insisting that she traveled to Pakistan only after obtaining proper visas and permissions. "She is not a spy. She is a travel vlogger who documented her experiences," he said.

On her social media accounts, Malhotra describes herself as a "modern girl with old ideas." Her content includes travel videos from various countries including Bangladesh, China, Thailand, UAE, and Indonesia. Her last video featuring Pakistan was uploaded in March, showing her attending a Ramadan dinner at the Pakistan High Commission.

Police have raised questions about how Malhotra financed her international trips, suggesting her lifestyle doesn't align with her known sources of income. According to authorities, she first met Ahsan-ur-Rahim in 2023 when she visited the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi to apply for a visa.

The case follows a diplomatic row between India and Pakistan, during which both countries expelled each other's embassy staff over accusations of espionage and improper conduct. Arrests on spying charges are not uncommon between the two rival nations, which have a long history of strained relations.