'Spy' Jyoti Malhotra Visited China In 2024, Was Called Out For 'Rude' Behaviour

YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, who is accused of spying for Pakistan, made headlines during her visit to China last year. In 2024, the 33-year-old travel vlogger shared a series of videos from China that were criticised by social media users.

One viral video showed her negotiating a window seat on a high-speed train from Shanghai to Beijing, asking another passenger to move from his assigned seat. In another clip, she approached a local woman for a ride on her two-wheeler despite the woman heading in the opposite direction. The situation escalated to the point where the woman had to seek assistance from police, unable to understand Malhotra's persistent requests.

In other videos, she was seen boarding a public bus without a valid ticket, refusing to pay when asked, and later arguing with the driver to stop at an unauthorised location. Her behaviour sparked fierce backlash across platforms, with users calling her "rude", "mannerless", and "disrespectful" to local traditions and laws.

Jyoti Malhotra Mocked Locals In China

Malhotra was also seen mocking local citizens' physical appearance, making fun of their mobile phones, and expressing frustration over their use of Mandarin. The online uproar led to her being reportedly banned from China.

In an attempt to pacify the growing criticism, Malhotra responded in the comment section of her video titled “Bullet Train of China 350 KMPH Bullet Train journey”.

"Thank you for your feedback. I've travelled to several Asian countries and have always had positive experiences. I believe the recent misunderstanding was due to a language barrier and miscommunication. I didn't mean to hurt anyone's sentiments, and I will take care in the future. We keep a harmonious relationship as neighbours and appreciate your understanding. I'm committed to improving our communication in future videos."

Her statement, however, did little to stem the outrage. For many, the damage had already been done.

Jyoti Malhotra Case

Less than a year after the China controversy, Malhotra found herself in far deeper trouble. On Saturday, she was arrested and charged with spying for Pakistan. Authorities allege that she leaked sensitive details about Indian Army locations and movements to Pakistani handlers. She was booked under the Official Secrets Act alongside five others as part of what investigators described as an intelligence network operating across Haryana and Punjab.

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