Introduction: A Case That Shook the Nation:-
Is Jyoti Malhotra a traitor to India or are the Indian media and police now guilty of Jyoti’s crime? Were the police hasty in labelling Jyoti a spy? Was what the police told the media based on suspicion and not on evidence ? Did Indian media indulge in immature journalism in its hatred for Pakistan and exaggeration of patriotism? On the basis of suspicion, did the country, the police, the society malign the character of a woman ? This question is being raised because Hisar Police had called Jyoti Malhotra a spy and after that the country’s media took it up. Society accused him, media accused him. The allegations crossed every limit. This vibe is coming after the press release of Hisar Police. Hisar Police has issued a press release and said many important things. Because whatever the Hisar police said in the beginning, the country called them Jyoti Malhotra and traitor.
The Initial Allegations: A Rush to Judgement:-
But now, what Hisar police is saying seems like a big U-turn and is forcing even the media persons to look inside. We felt that when we were questioning Jyoti without any doubt, then why not talk about her rights and introspect whether in the spirit of patriotism we did wrong to a woman. As a society, as media personnel, we watch TV channels, we don’t know about others but it is our responsibility to report the news that has come because even if he is innocent by 1%, then whatever has happened to him is wrong and the world should know this truth.Hisar Police issued a press release regarding Jyoti Mahaltra and there were many important things in it. Like is he in custody? He said yes he is in custody. Of the police, not of the NIA. Now this in itself is a very big hint. The police has it, the NIA has it. Hisar police said that NIA came for questioning.
Media’s Role: From Reporting to Character Assassination:-
After interrogation, NIA has brought C. in his life. Secondly, what evidence was found because it has been a long time. Many news came about Jyoti. There were a lot of ifs and buts. Here and there Maryam Nawaz, Pahalgam, Pathankot, XYZ but police says that no proof has been found so far of betrayal of army or passing of any defence information to Pakistan. In the midst of Operation Sindoor, there were reports that she was using WhatsApp in Pakistan. She went to Pahalgam in January. Went to Pakistan in March. Police say no evidence has been found linking them. Police is saying that they searched Jyoti’s laptop and mobile but did not find anything. That WhatsApp chat in which the TV was specifically making the claim. The TV people had reported that Jyoti wants to get married in Pakistan. Has Jyoti’s heart fallen in love with Pakistan ? That WhatsApp chat, the police is saying that we do not have any such evidence. A diary of Jyoti, some pages of which were being mentioned on TV, in newspapers and on social media, but the police is saying that we do not have any such diary.
Hisar Police’s U-Turn: A Press Release That Changes Everything:-
The one in which it was written that I fell in love with Pakistan. Regarding the money, the police is saying that we searched four banks of Jyoti but we have not got any information till now. The police is also saying that there is no direct link with any terrorist organisation or any incident, be it Pahalgam or Pathankot. Yes, the police admitted that he was in touch with the Pakistani PIO. Those people who were betraying and spying had his contact numbers in their mobile phones.
She was in contact with the officer who was deported from India to Pakistan. But did Jyoti convert to another religion ? Was Jyothi married? Police are saying no. This is fake news. Fake news. However, the news is still running in the media and this press release of the police is very regrettable. No media person told it openly. No one told me. We also covered all the news on Jyoti. We too had expressed our doubts repeatedly. But now that this news has come, it is our duty and religion to tell this also. And it is sad and regretful to say that many questions were raised on Jyoti without any FIR filed by the police and now when the police has taken a U-turn, those questions seem meaningless. The police itself is saying that if you read the press release of the police, then it is saying that print, electronics, social media should run news only on the official press release. The rest of the news is baseless and imaginary. Now, what the police is saying is a very big thing because it was the police who gave it air.
NIA’s Silence: A Telling Indicator:-
And now those police sources with the help of whom the news was coming in the media. Now the police is changing the news and saying that there is no evidence. There is no such thing in any phone. There is no such direct link between Kashmir, Pahalgam, Pathankot, Pakistan, marriage, love, Maryam Nawaz. So then the question is, did the media of this country do wrong reporting? Without any investigation, a huge uproar was created based only on what the police said. However, the police is also saying that this matter is of national sensitivity. The investigation is still going on. But still many questions are arising. Like one question is whether Jyoti Malhotra is a traitor or the police and media are calling her guilty. So look, regarding the allegations made against Jyoti of spying for ISI, Operation Sindoor, Pahalgam, the police has clearly said that the police does not have any evidence. There is no such transaction in his mobile phone, laptop or bank account. And the most important thing is that if an agency like NIA is not taking him into custody, then it is quite clear that it is not a very serious matter. In the context of Jyoti, if it was sensitive then the NIA would have taken her away by now. Secondly, regarding the media, yes, perhaps the media has gone too far. All of us together raised many questions. Pakistani spy and traitor.
The Power of Public Perception: Damage Without a Verdict:-
Now it is obvious that if the police is saying that they were spying. The FIR against him is for espionage, so spy means traitor and the media started saying so, but it seems that the FIR filed by the police was not based on evidence, it was based on suspicion and on the basis of suspicion it was released to the media, people in India were angry against Pakistan and a lot of things were said to Jyoti in that, all these things came out, rest of the things about recce, all those recce news are also wrong, the second question is whether the police was in a hurry in taking the spy to the hospital. On May 17, 2025, the police filed an FIR against Jyoti. Sections 3, 4, 5 and several other serious sections of the Official Secrets Act, 1923 were imposed. Many people were arrested in Punjab.
Society’s Role: Quick to Condemn, Slow to Reflect:-
His name had come up and when all the names were taken out from his phone, Jyoti’s name also came up in it. The names of both Ghazala and Danish had come forward. So initially the police had claimed that some suspicious material was found from his mobile laptop. Now when police says suspicious material it means something is wrong. That’s why the media picked up the news. The media exaggerated the truth. But initially the news came from there. But now the police is saying that there is no such suspicious thing.
If you look at the new press release, it says that there is no such doubt and the NIA has not asked for remand. THowever, the forensic investigation has not been completed yet. The police is saying this. But the question is that why is the forensic investigation taking so long or is the police also taking a pause because perhaps people have called him a traitor and the media has created a perception. Now if you take a sudden U-turn and say sorry, will you get into trouble ? That diary was being mentioned again and again, Jyoti’s arrest was based on suspicion. The name came up during the interrogation of Ghazala Yamin. Then there was mention of evidence but that did not come. The police is saying that I do not know about the diary which the media is continuously showing on social media and TV. So it seems that Jyoti’s arrest has been made only on the basis of suspicion. There is a lack of concrete evidence there. The police were quick to label him a spy.
Police Accountability: Haste in Action, Delay in Correction:-
It seems so from here. Now the next question comes regarding the media. Did the media do immature journalism? Maybe yes, because the media channels gave the inputs they received from the police. After that the news was exaggerated. ISI, spies, traitors, all these things came up. But the police said that some suspicious thing has been found. He is a detective. There was an FIR. But there was no concrete evidence. Jyoti, whose profile was full of videos from Pakistan, was looked at with suspicion by the media and a lot was said about her. A lot of things came up about her dinner with Danish, her luxurious life, her affair and all these things came up because the suspect was about. Relationships were mentioned. But now the police are going back on that statement. She is saying that no, there is nothing like that. There is no love affair, no relationship, no religious conversion. There is no diary in which it is said that there was love for Pakistan. There was even news that Meta had deleted his Instagram.
A Weak Case and Its Consequences:-
Now it is not known whether it was removed by Meta, the police complained or people reported it after which it was removed. But this was also kept as evidence. Now all these things have been removed. Police are saying that all these reports are baseless. And now they are requesting the media to run the news based on facts. So did the feeling of patriotism launch such a campaign in the media in which sensational and amateur journalism took place? A lot was said about Jyoti without any concrete evidence.
Lessons for Media and Institutions: The Need for Reform:-
About her personal life, it seems like it seems like Jyoti’s character assassination was done by the media. It seems that whatever was said about him by the media, whatever was said and after that, there are many things that people wrote in an exaggerated manner. There are many things. If Jyoti is found innocent regarding her sensational statements then the media of this country will have to apologize. Yes, we all should apologize because the news that was said, the news that was said quoting sources, the things that were said, now the police is saying that they are not true and if we had made the videos believing the police then now we should apologize by believing the police because if she is innocent and she will lead a normal life then her reputation has been damaged. Everything he said has been misinterpreted.
Ambiguity in Allegations: Did Jyoti Really Betray the Country?:-
The media and social media have maligned Jyoti’s character on the basis of suspicion. Based on what the police is saying now without any concrete evidence, it seems that yes, her reputation has been damaged by sensationalising her personal life. The question is, will Jyoti’s case end? Look, the police has made it clear that Jyoti has not received any such information related to the army, terrorism or any exchange of money. Yes, the forensic investigation has not been completed yet. But the absence of NIA perhaps makes it clear that this matter is not as intensely serious as it seemed in the beginning. Generally, serious security matters are investigated by the NIA, not the police. But Jyoti is in the custody of the local police. The police also released some other people who were arrested, such as Harkirat Singh. So this also shows that some people were caught in the beginning and then were released. And he might be innocent. We are not saying that he is innocent but the evidence may be pointing in that direction. Jyoti’s travels were with Pakistan visa. The police administration had given permission. We were all suspicious that she went there several times in a year. He was friends with Danish at PIOS. Danish is the person whom India expelled from India. For this reason Jyoti was suspected.
A Serious Case with Shaky Grounds:-
But he used the light. Jyoti betrayed the country. This is not clear and when the police are rejecting these claims then things are looking different. There is a case under serious sections but there is lack of evidence and it seems that this case may be dismissed in future because not a single evidence has been found till now. NIA is not here. The claims were made initially and now the press release issued by the police seems to be a step before an apology. Although it is too early to say anything before the investigation is completed, it still seems that the claims made may be exaggerated or fake. How are we saying this? Look, no military information has come yet. No forensic report has come. No cash transaction has been received. There is no mention of his diary anywhere. Jyoti’s name came after the interrogation of Ghazala and Yamin. But no evidence has been found. The claim that the police initially made about the suspicious material has remained just a claim till now. And we are saying again and again that the local police is investigating.
Lack of NIA Involvement: A Case Losing Steam?:-
Local police do not investigate such serious cases. The police is also mentioning Danish’s friendship. Police are saying that it is friendship. Dinner has been served. Have gone for a tour together. But treason has not been proven. And from here begins the question that the media has written about the marriage in Pakistan. Honey Trap Luxury Life Pathankot Everything mentioned here and there, what was that ? Now the question is, was it really a coincidence that she went to Pahalgam in January. Then she went to Pakistan and the incident happened again.
Social Media Misuse: Location Tags and Public Perception:-
According to the evidence given by the police and what the police is saying, it seems to be a coincidence. Today a news also came from Pathankot that she had gone to Pathankot. This suspicion was creating a sensation. Then it came to light later that even the security agencies of Pakistan had gone to Pathankot. The news came that she was going to Bangladesh. The local address was from Bangladesh. But those who have gone abroad often write the name of the location wherever they go. All these things are coming out and some of the people who were arrested have also been released, which raises questions on the credibility of this case. Jyoti had connections with people who were suspected of treason and had links with Pakistan, but it is not clear at least whether Jyoti was involved. At least what Hisar Police SP Shashank Kumar is saying is that Jyoti did not have direct information related to the military defence operation. Yes, she was in contact with people from Pakistan and that is why they are telling the media not to say anything. The police took action as per the legal process but gave a hint to the media which took the news forward.
Weakening Case: Arrests Reversed, Trust Eroded:-
Now if Jyoti is found innocent in the further investigation, then questions will be raised against the police as to whether the arrest was made in haste? Was it too early to give the tag of a spy? Questions will also be raised on the media: did it get carried away in propagating the news? Media houses sensationalised it. The allegations against Jyoti seem weak in the investigation. So was this media exaggeration and misleading reporting ? If this happens then it is regrettable. An apology must be made morally and that is why we have removed all the old videos. However, Jyoti has not been found completely innocent yet. Questions were also raised on the society because a large section of the society said a lot about Jyoti. However, society can and should blame the police and media, because they get their information through the police and media only. But still, as a society, do we have to apologize to that girl ? This is not the time yet. We will have to wait for the final results of the investigation.
Police Clarify: No Direct Military or Terror Links Found:-
But if Jyoti is proved innocent then the police, media and some sections of the society will have to reconsider their actions or statements. Right now the press release from Hisar police emphasizes on caution and verification of facts which shows restraint being exercised in the matter. Based on the evidence available till now, it would be wrong to call Jyoti a traitor. Based on the evidence so far. The police and the media raised questions as suspicion. It ‘s true. But right now there is no evidence
that proves him to be a traitor. This is a big thing. However, the analysis we are doing is based on the police reports till May 21, 2025.
Not a Spy Without Proof: Refrain From Labels:-
If any such evidence comes to light in the future then perhaps this view will change. But traitor based on suspicion, we would also like to tell you that you should avoid saying it. Because the current press release of the police indicates that the Jyoti Malhotra case is very weak. The charges leveled against him by the police are exaggerated and perhaps baseless. Perhaps no evidence was found. And this case also teaches us for the future that it is unethical to damage someone’s image in this way without solid evidence. Socially and legally as well.
A Lesson for the Future: Ethics Before Emotion:-
But for now we will only say that mistakes have been made and there should be no regret in accepting that mistake. But the big question is whether injustice will be done to that girl if she is proved innocent. This is a big question and we all should think about it. As a society, as a police administration , as a media. The Indo-Pak war was a very sensitive issue. In that sensitive issue when police arrested some people who went to Pakistan and were showing love for Pakistan and said that they are spies. If there is some evidence, then it was natural for people to look at everything with suspicion because the police had pointed it out. But if police is not able to clarify those evidences in their final investigation then it will be a matter of introspection for media and for all of us as a society to think about that girl.