Travel vlogger Jyoti Rani seeks default bail in espionage case

Travel vlogger Jyoti Rani, arrested on charges of espionage in May, on Friday (August 29, 2025) sought a default bail from the Hisar court on the ground that a complete challan has not been presented by the police within the stipulated 90-day period and the investigation in the case is not completed.

Moving an application for default bail through her counsel Mukesh Kumar, the accused pointed out that the prosecution had failed to file a complete challan within the stipulated period under Section 187 (2) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, “The period of 90 days completed on August 15, 2025 at 1.35 a.m. and the police have not filed a complete challan in court till date and time”.

Prosecution counsel Mandeep said the investigation in the case was still pending and had not yet been completed.

Referring to a Supreme Court case, Ritu Chhabaria Vs Union of India and Others, Mr. Kumar argued that “Charge sheet filed without completing investigation would not extinguish the right to default bail”.

Jyoti was arrested by the Hisar police on May 17 following the registration of a First Information Report against her under Sections 3 and 5 (penalties for spying; and wrongful communication of information) of the Official Secrets Act, 1923, and Section 152 (criminalises actions that endanger the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2024.