Scottish vlogger refutes Indian media's claims linking him to spy in Pakistan

Scottish travel vlogger Callum Mill, known for his YouTube channel "Callum Abroad," has publicly refuted reports from Indian media suggesting that he played a role in exposing an alleged Indian spy in Pakistan.

The controversy revolves around Jyoti Malhotra, an Indian YouTuber who was arrested by Indian authorities on charges of "spying for Pakistan."

Malhotra legally visited Pakistan in 2023 on a valid visa and was seen in several vlogs touring Lahore, including the historic Anarkali Bazaar. During her visit, she was accompanied by armed security personnel.

Callum, who was filming in the same area at that time, briefly interacted with Malhotra on camera. In the video, he casually asked for her impressions of Pakistan, to which she responded positively, praising the local hospitality.

Read: India arrests police officer over allegations of spying for Pakistan

Noting the heavy security detail surrounding her, Callum remarked, “I don't know why she needs so many guns… very strange.”

Months later, as tensions between Pakistan and India escalated, Indian news outlets began airing Callum’s publicly accessible footage, suggesting it was a significant breakthrough in a broader espionage case.

Some reports claimed that the vlogger had unintentionally helped to expose Malhotra's alleged spy network.

Frustrated by this media narrative, Callum took to X to distance himself from the controversy. He posted clips of the footage being shown on the Indian news channel Times Now, stating,

“They are using my footage like I’ve unearthed crucial evidence but it’s all a lot of shit. The gunmen can clearly be seen in the video she was making, so I’m honestly baffled why they are bringing me into it.”

They are using my footage like I’ve unearthed crucial evidence but it’s all a lot of shit.

The gunmen can clearly be seen in her own video she was making so I’m honestly baffled why they are bringing me into it. pic.twitter.com/IWmzC6fY5U

— CALLUM ABROAD (@CallumAbroad) May 27, 2025

Callum emphasised that all footage was publicly available on Malhotra’s YouTube channel and did not contain any suspicious or classified content.

The coincidence was used by Indian media to spark the controversy, which brought criticism over Indian media's capability to handle sensitive national security issues, especially during the recent military conflict with Pakistan.