Indian Businessman and YouTuber Arrested on Espionage Charges Amid India-Pakistan Tensions

Authorities in India have arrested two individuals, including a businessman and a travel content creator, on suspicion of spying for Pakistan. The arrests come in the wake of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following a deadly military confrontation earlier this month.

The first suspect, identified only as Shehzad, is a trader from Rampur in Uttar Pradesh. He was taken into custody on Sunday and charged with offences related to compromising India’s sovereignty and national integrity. Police allege that Shehzad’s legitimate business in clothing, cosmetics, and spices served as a cover for his links to Pakistan’s intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

According to investigators, Shehzad travelled frequently to Pakistan where he maintained contact with ISI operatives. He is accused of supplying Indian SIM cards and funds to operatives, as well as facilitating travel for others who were then allegedly recruited by the ISI.

The second arrest occurred days earlier in Haryana, where police detained Jyoti Malhotra, a travel blogger with a large following on YouTube and Instagram. Known online as “Travel with JO”, Malhotra reportedly had over 370,000 subscribers on her YouTube channel and 130,000 followers on Instagram.

Police claim Malhotra maintained regular contact with Ahsan-ur-Rahim, a Pakistani diplomat recently expelled by India on suspicion of espionage. Investigators allege that she shared sensitive information and are currently examining her digital devices, travel documents, and connections to other individuals.

Malhotra, who previously shared content from her trips to Pakistan—including visits to religious sites and markets—had also recently posted a video of herself attending a Ramadan dinner at the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi. Authorities are now scrutinizing her travel history to multiple countries, including China and Indonesia, which they argue may not align with her known sources of income.

Officials are also exploring whether Malhotra has any connection to the 22 April terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which resulted in 26 deaths, mostly Hindu tourists. That incident was cited by the Indian government as a reason for launching retaliatory military strikes across the border.

Malhotra’s father, Haris Malhotra, has strongly denied the allegations, stating that his daughter had travelled abroad with proper documentation and approvals. He criticized the seizure of her devices and called the charges against her unjust.

These developments follow a series of escalations that brought India and Pakistan dangerously close to renewed conflict. After four days of airstrikes and cross-border hostilities, both nations agreed to a ceasefire on 10 May.