India alleges Pakistan is recruiting social media influencers for espionage

Indian law enforcement agencies have alleged that Pakistani intelligence services are recruiting social media influencers for espionage and covert missions. Several Indian vloggers and YouTubers are currently under investigation for allegedly promoting pro-Pakistan content.

One such case involves travel blogger Jyoti Malhotra, who was arrested on May 17 on charges of spying for Pakistan.

Her travel history raised suspicions among Indian intelligence officials, who claimed she traveled to Lahore to transfer sensitive information just before a conflict between Pakistan and India.

An FIR was registered against her at the Hisar Civil Lines police station.

Malhotra, a resident of Haryana, had posted several videos of her visit to Pakistan on her Instagram account. She has been booked under Sections 3 and 5 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923, and Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Act.

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According to Indian media reports, she admitted to sharing sensitive information with Pakistani officials and was placed under a five-day police remand.

Hisar Superintendent of Police (SP) Shashank Kumar Sawan, who is leading the investigation, stated, “Modern warfare is not only fought on the border. The PIOs are trying to recruit some social media influencers, and they use that to push their narrative. We received inputs from the central agencies, and we arrested Jyoti Malhotra. She had visited Pakistan multiple times and China once. She was in contact with the PIOs. We have taken her on a 5-day police remand.”

The FIR also mentioned that Jyoti had visited the Pakistani High Commission in Delhi in 2023, where she allegedly met a staffer identified as Ehsan-ur-Rahim, also known as Danish, with whom she remained in contact.

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SP Sawan added, “We are analysing her financial details. During the conflict, she was in touch with the PIOs... Her travel details are defying her total income.”

Indian authorities further claimed that Jyoti was being “developed as an asset” by Pakistan and had visited the neighboring country shortly before the Pahalgam attack.

Investigations are underway to identify others connected to her. According to Indian media, at least three individuals from Haryana have been arrested on suspicion of espionage.