The Supreme Court (SC) on Friday junked the bail plea of travel vlogger and YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, who is accused of sharing sensitive information with intelligence operatives based in Pakistan. The top court emphasised the gravity of the allegations, observing that there could be ‘no compromise with national security.’

A bench comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and SC Sharma trashed Malhotra’s petition challenging an order by the Punjab and Haryana High Court (HC) which had denied bail to her earlier. It noted that the accusations levelled against her were of a highly serious nature and would have to be examined during trial.

“Very serious charges,” remarks Bench

As the hearing proceeded, Malhotra’s counsel contended that she had been in custody since May 16, 2025, and held no prior criminal record. The defence argued that her prolonged incarceration warranted consideration for bail.

However, the contention failed to convince the bench, which stressed that the case involved issues directly linked to the country’s security. The bench remarked, “These are very serious charges against you and any defence you have is a subject matter of trial.”

Furthermore, the judges remarked that the allegations suggested repeated interactions with people connected to Pakistani authorities. Refusing to grant relief, the bench deemed the case unfit for bail and said the accused would have to face trial.

Details of the case

Malhotra, a native of Hisar in Haryana, runs a YouTube channel titled Travel-with-Jo. She was booked under provisions of the Official Secrets Act as well as Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which pertains to acts endangering the sovereignty and integrity of India.

The investigating police personnel allege she established contact with officials at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi and subsequently travelled to Pakistan, where she allegedly met people linked to the country’s security and intelligence apparatus.

According to Haryana Police, Malhotra was in regular touch with Pakistani operatives through multiple social media platforms. Authorities claimed she shared video footage of strategic locations, including the Pandoh Dam in Himachal Pradesh, besides other security-related establishments.

Financial transactions, forensic evidence under scrutiny

The police probe yielded forensic evidence from her electronic devices, suggesting the use of multiple communication channels to remain in touch with foreign operatives.

Additionally, the cops also pointed to suspicious banking transactions which are being examined as part of the broader probe. The Haryana Police even claimed Malhotra frequently met Ehsan-Ur-Rahim, alias Danish, at the Pakistan High Commission. Danish was later declared persona non grata by the Ministry of External Affairs and was directed to leave India on May 14 last year.