Supreme Court Rejects Bail Plea of YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra in Espionage Case

June 6, 2026 : The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed the bail plea of YouTuber Jyoti Rani Malhotra, popularly known as Jyoti Malhotra, who was arrested on allegations of espionage and sharing sensitive information with individuals linked to Pakistani intelligence agencies.

A Bench comprising Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma declined to interfere with the order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which had earlier refused to grant her regular bail.

Malhotra, who runs the YouTube channel “Travel with Jo,” was arrested on May 16, 2025, following Operation Sindoor. She was booked in an FIR registered by the Hisar Police under Sections 3, 4, and 5 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923, along with Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

According to the prosecution, Malhotra allegedly travelled to Pakistan with assistance from officials associated with the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi and came into contact with individuals linked to Pakistan’s intelligence network during her visits.

Investigators further alleged that after returning to India, she remained in touch with those individuals through messaging platforms including WhatsApp, Snapchat, and Telegram. The agency claimed that she shared sensitive information with these contacts, raising concerns over national security and the sovereignty of India.

While rejecting her bail application, the Punjab and Haryana High Court observed that the allegations against the accused were grave and directly related to national security. The court noted that evidence collected during the investigation disclosed a prima facie case suggesting her involvement in activities prejudicial to the interests of the State.

The High Court also recorded that there was prima facie material indicating that the accused had maintained contact with persons connected to a neighbouring country and had allegedly transmitted sensitive information to them. Considering the seriousness of the allegations and the ongoing investigation, the court held that the matter was not fit for the grant of bail.

After hearing the case, the Supreme Court found no reason to interfere with the High Court’s findings and dismissed Malhotra’s petition, dealing a setback to the YouTuber in the espionage case.