The Haryana Court has extended the police remand of social media influencer Jyoti Malhotra by four days in connection with an ongoing espionage investigation involving suspected links to a Pakistan-based intelligence network.

Malhotra, a 33-year-old YouTuber from Hisar, was arrested last week under the Official Secrets Act and relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

She is among twelve individuals detained over the past two weeks across Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh on espionage-related charges. Malhotra was taken into custody from New Aggarsain Extension, Hisar, and has since been under scrutiny by multiple agencies, including the National Investigation Agency, the Intelligence Bureau, and military intelligence units.

Authorities have been examining her digital communications and financial transactions.

According to police, while there is no conclusive evidence yet linking Malhotra to classified military or defense information, she is believed to have been in contact with known Pakistani intelligence operatives. Investigators revealed that since November 2023, she had been in communication with Ehsan-ur-Rahim, alias Danish, a staff member at the Pakistani High Commission who was expelled from India on May 13 for alleged espionage.

Her interactions and travels to countries such as Pakistan, China, and Bangladesh are also under investigation, with officials suspecting that she was being groomed as an intelligence asset.

Granting the remand extension, the Court emphasized the seriousness of the charges and the complex nature of the investigation. It noted that further forensic analysis of Malhotra’s electronic devices and financial data was crucial to determine the scope of her involvement.

The court acknowledged the sensitive national security concerns at stake and underscored the importance of allowing the investigative agencies adequate time to carry out a comprehensive probe.

The four-day extension will enable continued examination of critical evidence as law enforcement works to unravel the extent of Malhotra’s alleged role in the espionage network.