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Overview of the Espionage Case

The arrest of YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra on espionage charges has revealed that her travels were frequently sponsored by a UAE-based travel company, Vigo, which operates in Pakistan and has recently partnered with the Azerbaijan tourism board. Azerbaijan has openly supported Pakistan and condemned India's recent military actions against terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK). These military operations, part of 'Operation Sindoor,' were initiated on May 7 in retaliation for a terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22 that resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians.

Details on Jyoti Malhotra's Background

Jyoti Malhotra, a 33-year-old travel vlogger from Haryana, is currently in police custody and is one of 11 individuals arrested over the past two weeks on suspicion of espionage linked to Pakistan. Investigators suspect the existence of a spying network connected to Pakistan in North India. Running the YouTube channel 'Travel with Jo,' Jyoti has approximately 400,000 subscribers and 132,000 followers on Instagram. She has been seen promoting the Vigo app in one of her YouTube videos, and police sources indicate that all her sponsors are currently under investigation.

Concerns Surrounding Vigo's Operations

While there is no direct evidence linking Vigo to espionage or funding from Pakistan, its operations in the country have raised concerns in this context. Just two days ago, Vigo announced a partnership with the Azerbaijan tourism board, aimed at promoting the country as a year-round destination for culture-seeking, health-conscious tourists from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

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