Supreme Court Upholds Denial of Bail for YouTuber Jyoti Rani in Spy Case

The Supreme Court on June 5 dismissed a bail petition filed by YouTuber Jyoti Rani, also known as Jyoti Malhotra. She is accused of espionage and sharing sensitive information with operatives linked to Pakistan’s intelligence agencies. A bench comprising Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma declined to overturn a March 7 order from the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which had previously denied her bail.

Rani, who ran a YouTube channel called "Travel-with-Jo," was arrested on May 16, 2025, following 'Operation Sindoor.' She faces charges under Sections 3, 4, and 5 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923, and Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. The allegations state that she traveled to Pakistan with help from officials at the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi. During her trip, she reportedly met with officials from Pakistan’s security and intelligence agencies.

The State further alleged that after returning to India, Rani maintained contact with these individuals via WhatsApp, Snapchat, and Telegram. She is accused of passing sensitive information to them through these platforms. The High Court had previously denied bail, noting the seriousness of the allegations and citing prima facie evidence that she engaged in anti-national activities.