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Jyoti Malhotra, accused of spying for Pakistan, toured Kerala on govt invite to boost tourism: RTI
Jyoti Malhotra, a 33-year-old travel vlogger from Haryana who was recently arrested for allegedly spying for Pakistan, had previously worked with the Kerala Tourism Department as part of an official digital campaign, a newly released RTI response has revealed.
Malhotra, who runs the YouTube channel Travel with Jo, was among several social media influencers invited by Kerala between 2024 and 2025 to promote the state as a global tourist destination. Her travel, stay, and itinerary were fully funded by the Kerala government under its influencer partnership programme to boost digital tourism outreach.
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The RTI reply shows that Malhotra toured major tourist spots like Kannur, Kozhikode, Kochi, Alappuzha, and Munnar, filming content for her YouTube audience. One of her viral videos showed her wearing a traditional Kerala sari while attending a Theyyam performance in Kannur.
However, her arrest has cast a shadow over the initiative. Indian intelligence agencies allege Malhotra travelled to Pakistan several times and established contacts with individuals linked to Pakistani intelligence, including staff at the Pakistan High Commission in India. One such official has been expelled from the country following the revelations.
Her arrest is part of a larger crackdown by central agencies on an alleged espionage network spread across several Indian states. So far, 12 people have been arrested from Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh in what authorities describe as a covert effort by foreign intelligence to use digital platforms and influencer networks for gathering sensitive information.
Malhotra's case has sparked serious concerns about security checks and vetting procedures for people involved in government-backed campaigns. Her YouTube channel, featuring 487 videos from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Thailand, and various Indian states, is now under investigation for possible intelligence links disguised as travel content.
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