Before Jyoti Malhotra: The Madhuri Gupta Spy Scandal That Shocked India in 2010
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New Delhi | May 21, 2025 — As the nation grapples with the arrest of travel YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra on charges of spying for Pakistan, attention has turned to a similar and shocking espionage case from the past: that of Madhuri Gupta, the Indian diplomat-turned-spy who betrayed her country over a decade ago.
Gupta’s story, which came to light in 2010, stands as a cautionary tale about how deeply foreign intelligence agencies like Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) can infiltrate Indian institutions—even the highest diplomatic ranks.
Who Was Madhuri Gupta?
Madhuri Gupta was a seasoned junior diplomat who served as the Press and Information Secretary at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. Prior to that, she worked as an Assistant Director at the Indian Council of World Affairs between 2006 and 2007. Fluent in Urdu, Gupta had reportedly developed strong social ties in Pakistan, making her vulnerable to manipulation by ISI operatives.
She was suspected of sharing sensitive information with Pakistan from 2008 to 2010, including data that had serious implications for India’s national security.
How She Was Caught
Gupta’s activities reportedly came under scrutiny due to irregular email patterns and unauthorized interactions with Pakistani officials. Upon her return to India in April 2010, she was arrested by Indian intelligence agencies. She was later found guilty of passing on key information, both in person and via email, to Pakistani intelligence officers Mubshar Raza Rana and Jamshed.
One particularly alarming email reportedly referenced a hydroelectric project in Jammu & Kashmir, a detail that, if leaked, could have severely compromised India’s energy and strategic interests in the region.
Diplomat in Love?
One of the more bizarre aspects of the case was Gupta’s alleged romantic involvement with a younger Pakistani intelligence operative. According to investigating officer Pankaj Sood, Gupta was not only emotionally manipulated but was also “keen to cross over to Pakistan” and had even expressed a desire to marry the operative.
These claims, however, were denied by Gupta, who maintained throughout her trial that she was falsely implicated by senior officials at the Ministry of External Affairs.
The Court’s Verdict
In 2018, at the age of 66, Gupta was sentenced to three years in prison under various sections of the Official Secrets Act. The Delhi court noted that while she may not have successfully delivered classified documents, her intention to help an enemy country was clear.
“It is seen that the accused was unable to give such information but her intention... and her going to Jammu after giving the false excuse of attending marriage points out her intention of helping the enemy country,” the court observed.
Death and Denial
Madhuri Gupta died in 2021 in Bhiwandi, Rajasthan. She had consistently denied all charges against her, calling the case a vendetta launched by disgruntled officials. Despite her conviction, questions remain about whether she acted alone or was part of a larger network operating out of New Delhi and Islamabad.
Espionage Then and Now
The Madhuri Gupta episode holds eerie parallels with the unfolding case of Jyoti Malhotra, a popular YouTuber accused of passing sensitive information to Pakistan’s ISI under the guise of a travel vlogger. Both cases involve covert contact, emotional manipulation, and exploitation of access to information.
The major difference: one was a diplomat embedded in India’s foreign mission, the other a civilian with mass digital reach.
As India strengthens its counterintelligence capabilities and cracks down on foreign espionage, the stories of Madhuri Gupta and now Jyoti Malhotra serve as critical reminders of the ever-evolving threats to national security—threats that don’t just come from borders, but also from within.
