A popular Indian travel vlogger has been arrested on suspicion of passing information to an operative of Pakistan's spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
Jyoti Malhotra, a 33-year-old travel influencer from the northern Indian state of Haryana, allegedly travelled to Pakistan multiple times, most recently in March 2025.
Police claim she was in contact with a Pakistan High Commission official who was expelled from India earlier this month.
Hisar Superintendent of Police Shashank, Kumar Sawan, confirmed to the ABC that the man, identified as Ehsan-ur-Rahim, is known to Indian intelligence agencies.
The diplomat was expelled for "activities not in keeping with his official status".
Ms Malhotra first met Mr Rahim in 2023 when she visited the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi to obtain a visa, police say.
Investigators allege the pair exchanged phone numbers and remained in contact.
Mr Rahim is said to have helped arrange her travel and accommodation in Pakistan and introduced her to a network that included Pakistani and Italian security officials.
It's alleged she continued engaging with them via WhatsApp, Snapchat, and Telegram.
Authorities are scouring her devices and financial records, but Superintendent Sawan conceded no concrete evidence of espionage has yet been found.
'My daughter is totally innocent'
Her father, Harish Malhotra, has denied the allegations, insisting his daughter had travelled legally and done nothing wrong.
"My daughter is totally innocent," he told the ABC from their home in Hisar.
"This is a mistake and she'll be freed, mark my words."
In a formal statement, police alleged Ms Malhotra "has committed a crime by endangering the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India".
She is accused of "carrying out suspicious activities and exchanging Indian intelligence information with a citizen of enemy country Pakistan, who has been declared persona-non-grata by the government of India on charges of espionage".
With 377,000 subscribers on YouTube and over 133,000 followers on Instagram, Ms Malhotra built a following by documenting her travels across countries including India, Bangladesh, China, Thailand, the UAE and Indonesia.
Her most popular content features her visits to Pakistan, where she filmed Hindu and Sikh temples, bustling bazaars, and daily life as an Indian woman abroad, some of those videos have drawn millions of views.
Her Instagram account has since been taken down.
Police probe Jyoti's income
Police have raised questions about how Ms Malhotra funded her frequent international travel, given her modest background.
Ms Malhotra, who does not appear to have income outside YouTube, lives with her father and uncle.
Her father told the ABC the family survives on a small monthly pension of around $270 provided to his disabled brother.
"We are analysing all her financial transactions … her travel details defy her known source of income," Superintendent Sawan said.
He alleged Ms Malhotra was being groomed as an asset, and claimed other Indian influencers are also suspected of alleged links with Pakistani intelligence operatives.
"Young people fall in such traps chasing views and likes, and they don't understand what the national and international ramifications are," Superintendent Sawan said during a press conference.
"Modern warfare isn't just at the border — it also includes meeting with influencers and pushing their narrative and distorting their image through this soft power."
Ms Malhotra is currently in remand and is being investigated under several charges including for breaching the Official Secrets Act.
Her hometown of Hisar is considered a strategic military hub.
While police admit she had no access to military or classified material, Superintendent Sawan said: "In the current context you cannot share information with your enemy."
Indian police crack down after skirmishes
So far, Ms Malhotra has cooperated with investigators, a police spokesperson told the ABC.
Police say she remained in contact with Mr Rahim between 2023 and 2025, including during "Operation Sindoor," India's cross-border strikes targeting what it called "terrorist infrastructure" in Pakistan.
That operation followed the April 22 massacre of 26 civilians, mostly Hindus, in Indian-controlled Kashmir, an attack India blamed on Pakistan-based militants. Pakistan denies any involvement.
After four days of deadly clashes, a ceasefire was announced on May 10, brokered by US President Donald Trump.
Ms Malhotra's arrest comes amid a wider crackdown.
At least 14 people have been detained across India in recent weeks on suspicion of spying or leaking sensitive information to Pakistan.
Authorities say surveillance efforts were intensified after the Kashmir attack, amid fears of deeper infiltration.
Earlier this week, a second Pakistani official was asked to leave India within 24 hours for "indulging in activities not consistent with his official status".
The mission's most senior ranking diplomat was also asked to ensure that none of his staff "misuse their privileges and status in any manner".
The Pakistan High Commission is yet to respond to ABC enquiries about both matters.
