The Supreme Court on June 5 dismissed the bail plea of Haryana’s travel blogger Jyoti Malhotra, who is accused of sharing sensitive information with Pakistani intelligence operatives, observing that the allegations against her were of a highly serious nature and involved concerns of national security.
A Bench comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and S.C. Sharma reportedly rejected Malhotra’s petition challenging a Punjab and Haryana High Court order that had earlier denied her bail. The apex court noted that issues relating to national security warranted careful consideration and weighed against granting relief at this stage.
The counsel for Malhotra argued that she had been in custody since her arrest on May 16, 2025, and had no prior criminal record. However, the Bench observed that such submissions formed part of her defence and would be examined during the course of the trial.
The court also took note of allegations that Malhotra had travelled to Pakistan and met officials there, concluding that no grounds existed for granting bail in the case.
Malhotra, a resident of Hisar, runs a YouTube channel titled Travel-with-Jo. She was arrested following allegations that she shared sensitive information with Pakistani intelligence operatives.
The Haryana Police registered a case against her under the Official Secrets Act and Section 152 of the BNS, which pertains to acts endangering the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India.