Indian YouTuber Rides To Pakistan On A BMW R 1300 GS: Arrested By NIA
In a shocking turn of events, the Telugu YouTuber and travel vlogger Bayya Sunny Yadav was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) at Chennai International Airport on Thursday. It was part of an ongoing investigation into alleged espionage activities linked to his recent trip to Pakistan.
Yadav, who hails from Suryapet in Telangana, runs a YouTube channel which posts travel and motorcycling content. Recently, he did a cross-border trip to Pakistan on his BMW R 1300 GS, and shared a video of the same on his channel. He rode from Hyderabad to Pakistan and claimed himself to be the first Indian biker to do so.
The YouTuber has posted a series of videos on the Hyderabad-Pakistan ride, the first of which was published in early May. If you recollect, this was the time when India launched the 'Operation Sindoor' attack on Pakistan. Tensions between the two countries had peaked, back then.
Yadav's roadtrip to Pakistan drew major attention online- both from YouTube users and the authorities! At the time of writing this story, the first video of the series has had over 304K views.
The latest vlog, titled 'My first day in Pakistan, Lahore' gathered 297K views in just two days! These videos have now landed Bayya Sunny Yadav in serious trouble.
Four months ago, Yadav had posted another vlog from the India-Pakistan border. Over 1,95,000 have watched this yet.
YouTuber's Pak Activities Under NIA's Watch
The NIA has launched a full-fledged investigation into Yadav’s activities during his visit to Pakistan. Officials are checking whether he engaged in any suspicious activities or shared sensitive information. These are critical offences at a time when India-Pakistan tensions are soaring.
Yadav's digital devices, including mobile phones and storage gadgets, have been seized and sent for detailed forensic analysis. Investigators are trying to figure out the purpose and intent behind the Youtuber's Pakistan visit.
Part Of ‘Operation Sindoor’?
The arrest is connected to NIA's ‘Post Operation Sindoor’ initiative, an intelligence operation targeting espionage networks across India. As part of this, the agency has arrested 11 individuals so far from states like Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, and Rajasthan. Bayya Sunny Yadav is the latest on this list.
The Family Reacts
After the arrest, Yadav's father reportedly spoke to some vernacular media, in defence of his son. “Sunny has no connection with terrorists. He is a true patriot who went to Pakistan purely as a biker and travel vlogger.” He said. He added that his son returned from Pakistan before the Pahalgam attack.
Not The First YouTuber Getting Arrested!
Previously, a 33-year-old travel vlogger from Haryana- Jyoti Rani Malhotra was also booked by NIA for allegedly spying for Pakistani intelligence agencies during Operation Sindoor. She was arrested from the New Aggarwal Extension area in Hisar district, under Sections 3 and 5 of the Official Secrets Act and Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Further interrogation by intelligence agencies revealed shocking details.
Previous FIRs And Betting App Promotion
Looking back, this isn’t Yadav’s first brush with the law. Before his Pakistan visit, he was allegedly involved in promoting illegal betting apps through his YouTube channel.
FIRs were filed against him in both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. A Lookout Circular (LOC) was also issued while he was still travelling. Authorities had been trying to track him down ever since.
What Happens Next?
The NIA will continue to investigate the case. They'll likely have their focus set on determining if the YouTuber's international trips had anything to do with espionage. The results of the forensic analysis will play a key role in this.