3. Jyoti Rani espionage case

Context

Jyoti Rani, a Haryana-based YouTuber with a large following, was arrested for allegedly spying for Pakistan’s intelligence agency (believed to be ISI) under Operation Sindoor. She has been booked under:

Section 3 & Section 5 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923
Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)

Official Secrets Act (OSA), 1923:

It is a colonial-era legislation meant to protect State secrets, especially related to defence, intelligence, and national security.
Section 3: Penalties for Spying. This section targets any individual who:
- Gains access to or observes prohibited areas
- Prepares or shares any material (plans, models, documents, etc.) that could benefit an enemy
- Collects or communicates any classified information
Punishment: Up to 14 years’ imprisonment for offences relating to defence establishments. Up to 3 years in other cases
Section 5: Wrongful Communication of Information
- Even unauthorised disclosure—whether deliberate or careless—of official secrets is punishable.
- Includes both the giver and receiver of information.
Punishment: Up to 3 years imprisonment, or fine, or both.

Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023

This section criminalizes any act that:
- Encourages separatism
- Incites rebellion or subversive activities
- Endangers India’s sovereignty or unity
It applies not just to physical acts, but also speech, writing, social media posts, financial aid, etc.
Punishment: Life imprisonment, or Imprisonment up to 7 years, and fine