In a startling revelation, a Right to Information (RTI) reply has confirmed that Jyoti Malhotra, the YouTuber currently under arrest for allegedly spying for Pakistan, had earlier visited Kerala on an official invitation from the state government under a tourism promotion campaign.
According to the RTI response accessed by ANI, Malhotra’s travel, accommodation, and itinerary expenses were fully funded by the Kerala Tourism Department. The visit was part of a government-run influencer collaboration programme designed to promote Kerala as a digital tourism destination.
Who is Jyoti Malhotra?
A 33-year-old content creator from Hisar, Haryana, Jyoti Malhotra ran the YouTube channel ‘Travel with JO’, which features over 480 travel videos from across Pakistan, Bangladesh, Thailand, and India.
Between January 2024 and May 2025, she was one of several influencers invited by the state to cover locations like Kannur, Kozhikode, Kochi, Alappuzha, and Munnar. One of her most viewed videos showed her dressed in a Kerala sari attending a traditional Theyyam performance in Kannur.
Suspected Espionage Activities
Malhotra was arrested on May 16 from Hisar’s New Aggarsain Extension and booked under the Official Secrets Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Though police found no classified military data in her possession, investigators claim she was in regular contact with Pakistani intelligence since late 2023.
One of her key contacts, Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, a staffer at the Pakistan High Commission, was expelled by the Indian government on May 13 over suspected espionage. Officials allege Pakistani agencies were attempting to cultivate Malhotra as an asset through digital outreach.
Legal Proceedings Ongoing
Malhotra’s judicial custody was extended again by a Hisar court on June 23, with her next hearing scheduled for July 7. Her bail plea was earlier rejected on June 12. Her lawyer, Kumar Mukesh, said they would now approach the district sessions court.
She is reportedly one of 12 individuals arrested across Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh in a coordinated crackdown on a suspected Pakistan-linked espionage network targeting Indian influencers.
This disclosure raises serious concerns about potential lapses in background checks during state-sponsored promotional programmes.
