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Business Standard
2 days ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Tourism minister not to blame for inviting Jyoti Malhotra to Kerala: UDF
Leader of Opposition in the state assembly V D Satheesan said had the government known she was a spy, it would not have invited her to the state Press Trust of India Thiruvananthapuram The Congress-led UDF opposition on Tuesday said neither the Tourism Department nor the minister heading it can be blamed for inviting social media influencer Jyoti Malhotra, suspected of spying for Pakistan, to the state for promoting its tourism sector. Leader of Opposition in the state assembly V D Satheesan said had the government known she was a spy, it would not have invited her to the state. "No one knew she was carrying out espionage when she was here. So, what can be done about that? We are a responsible opposition, we do not blame the government unnecessarily," he said. At the same time, he also said that had CPI(M) been in the opposition, it would have demanded the resignation of the Tourism Minister over the issue. The opposition leader was replying to reporters' queries regarding the state government inviting Malhotra to Kerala for promoting its tourism. The issue assumes importance as BJP leader K Surendran recently questioned why "a Pak-linked spy's trip" was sponsored by Kerala Tourism. Kerala Tourism Minister P A Mohammed Riyas, who had recently brushed aside the allegation as "worthless propaganda", on Tuesday reiterated that the government was not aware of what Malhotra was involved in when she was invited to the state. He said that the government also did not receive any adverse information about her from any of the agencies. "She went to states ruled by various political parties, including the BJP. Now, some BJP leaders want a probe into the matter. The intention behind all this is only to create unnecessary controversy," he said. Meanwhile, amidst the raging row, a purported video of Malhotra interacting with the then Union Minister of State for External Affairs, V Muraleedharan, went viral on social media. Some Malayalam news channels also aired the same video of her interviewing Muraleedharan during the inaugural run of the orange-coloured Vande Bharat Express from Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram in September 2023. In the video, the BJP leader can be seen telling her, in English and Malayalam, how the train would benefit the people of the state. Neither Muraleedharan nor the BJP has responded to the development. Malhotra was arrested in May this year, after the Pahalgam terror attack, on suspicion of spying for Pakistan. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Red carpet for Pak spies': YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra's Kerala trip gives BJP fresh ammo to target Pinarayi govt
A visit to Kerala by YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, who was arrested on May 16 by the Haryana police on charges of spying for Pakistan, on the state government's invitation, has spiralled into a political row, with the BJP seeking the resignation of Kerala's tourism minister. 'RTI reveals Pakistani spy Jyoti Malhotra visited Kerala on Left government invite and was state guest in a sense courtesy Tourism Department. So Bharat Mata is blocked and Pak spies are given red carpet by Left? Tourism Minister Mohammad Riyas is son-in-law of (CM Pinarayi) Vijayan. He should be sacked and investigated,' BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Jai Hind posted on X on Monday. On Sunday, Tourism Minister P A Mohamed Riyas told the media that vloggers like Jyoti were brought to Kerala with good intentions. 'No government will deliberately bring a spy to the state at its expense,' Riyas said. Senior BJP leader K Surendran also out at the ruling government: 'Pak-spy Jyoti Malhotra's Kannur trip was sponsored by Kerala tourism, run by none other than Pinarayi Vijayan's son-in-law. Why is Kerala rolling out a red carpet for a Pak-linked spy.' Jyoti's channel, Travel with Jo, had a sizable following on YouTube and Instagram, capturing her trips to various locations. The Kerala trip videos were posted in January this year. She was invited to Kerala by the tourism department, which met her expenses during the Kerala sojourn. It was part of the department's tourism promotion activities outside the state. It was Jyoti's two visits to Pakistan – the first in April 2024, when she took a train from Wagah to Lahore, and the other in March this year, over a month before the Pahalgam terror attack – that brought her under official scrutiny, and led to her arrest. According to the police, she allegedly told them that it was in 2023, during a visit to the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi for a travel visa, that she met Ahsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, a now-expelled official at the commission. Danish was declared persona non-grata and expelled from India on May 13 after he was accused of spying. The Hisar Police has alleged that she was found sharing 'sensitive information' with an official of the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi.
Mint
3 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
‘Pakistan spy' Jyoti Malhotra visited Kerala on govt invitation, reveals RTI; state tourism min reacts
Jyoti Malhotra, a 33-year-old vlogger from Haryana recently arrested on charges of espionage for Pakistan, had earlier visited Kerala on an official invitation from the state government, said an RTI (Right to Information) reply that has now surfaced. Malhotra was part of a tourism promotion campaign organised by the Kerala Tourism Department, which funded a group of social media influencers to enhance the state's digital visibility as a travel destination, ANI reported. The RTI response confirms that Malhotra's travel, stay, and itinerary expenses were fully covered by the department during her visit, according to a report by ANI. As per official records, Jyoti Malhotra toured Kannur, Kozhikode, Kochi, Alappuzha, and Munnar between 2024 and 2025 under the government's influencer collaboration initiative. Her participation was listed alongside several other digital creators active between January 2024 and May 2025. Investigations have since revealed that Malhotra had travelled to Pakistan multiple times and had established contacts with officials from Pakistani intelligence agencies, including personnel from the Pakistan High Commission. One such official was later expelled by India after their association came to light, ANI reported. Kerala Tourism Minister P A Mohammed Riyas on Sunday said that the Left government in the state and its ministers would never "knowingly" invite spies here and provide them with all facilities. Riyas remarked in response to reporters' queries regarding BJP leader K Surendran's allegation that social media influencer Jyoti Malhotra, who was arrested in May on suspicion of spying for Pakistan, was invited to Kerala to promote tourism in the state. Surendran, in a post on social media platform 'X', also referred to an RTI reply confirming such an invitation to Malhotra and questioned why 'a Pak-linked spy's trip' was sponsored by Kerala Tourism. One of her earlier viral clips shows her dressed in a traditional Kerala sari while attending a Theyyam performance in Kannur, highlighting her role in cultural and tourism-focused content creation. Malhotra is among 12 individuals arrested in a coordinated crackdown across Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, targeting a suspected spy network accused of using Indian social media influencers to gather intelligence. The Left government in the state and its ministers would never 'knowingly' invite spies here. Her YouTube channel, Travel with Jo, features 487 videos, including travel content from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Thailand. Key Takeaways Government initiatives can unintentionally invite scrutiny when involving individuals with controversial backgrounds. The importance of thorough vetting in influencer collaborations for public campaigns. Understanding the implications of social media influencers in national security contexts.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Jyoti Malhotra espionage case: Vlogger visited Kerala on official invitation, reveals RTI
Jyoti Malhotra, a 33-year-old vlogger from Haryana who was recently arrested on charges of espionage for Pakistan, had previously visited Kerala, between 2024 and 2025, on an official invitation from the state government, according to a newly surfaced RTI (right to information) response. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Malhotra participated in a tourism promotion initiative organized by the Kerala tourism department, which sponsored a group of social media influencers to boost the state's online presence as a travel hotspot. The RTI reply confirms that the Kerala tourism department fully covered Malhotra's travel, accommodation, and itinerary expenses during her visit, reported by news agency ANI. Kerala tourism minister PA Mohammed Riyas stated on Sunday that the Left-led state government and its ministers would never "knowingly" extend invitations or offer support to individuals involved in espionage. His remarks came in response to questions about BJP leader K Surendran's claim that social media influencer Jyoti Malhotra, arrested in May for allegedly spying for Pakistan, had been invited to Kerala as part of a tourism promotion campaign. Surendran, in a post on the social media platform X, referred to an RTI reply confirming Malhotra's invitation and questioned why "a Pak-linked spy's trip" was funded by Kerala Tourism. The BJP leader had previously made similar allegations on X. Rejecting these claims, Riyas stated that the government and its ministers would never knowingly invite a spy to the state and added that they were not afraid of such propaganda. "We don't give any value to such propaganda as the people are with us," the minister said. According to official records, Jyoti Malhotra visited Kannur, Kozhikode, Kochi, Alappuzha, and Munnar as part of the government's influencer collaboration programme between 2024 and 2025. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Her name appeared among several other digital creators who participated in the initiative between January 2024 and May 2025. Subsequent investigations revealed that Malhotra had made multiple trips to Pakistan and had developed connections with officials linked to Pakistani intelligence agencies, including members of the Pakistan high commission. One of these officials was later expelled by India after their involvement was exposed. Malhotra is among 12 people arrested in a coordinated crackdown across Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, linked to an alleged spy network that reportedly targeted Indian social media influencers to collect intelligence. Her YouTube channel, Travel with Jo, features 487 videos, with a significant number showcasing her travels in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Thailand. One of her earlier viral videos notably showed her wearing a traditional Kerala sari while attending a Theyyam performance in Kannur.
India.com
01-06-2025
- Politics
- India.com
BJP Accuses Pinarayi Vijayans Son-in-Law Of Funding Spy YouTubers Kerala Trip
New Delhi: The controversy surrounding 'spy' YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra has taken a new turn, with the BJP dragging Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's son-in-law's name to the headlines for hosting Malhotra's visit to the 'God's Own Country'. The Kerala Tourism Department, headed by P.A. Mohammed Riyas, extended a warm welcome to Jyoti Malhotra, a YouTuber arrested for alleged espionage activities for Pakistan, during her Kannur visit under a state-backed initiative. Notably, Riyas is the son-in-law of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. BJP leader and former Kerala state president K. Surendran took to his social media and questioned the purpose behind Malhotra's Kerala trip. He underscored, "Pak-Spy Jyoti Malhotra's Kannur trip was sponsored by Kerala Tourism, run by none other than Pinarayi Vijayan's son-in-law. Who did she meet? Where did she go? What's the real agenda?" Pak-Spy Jyoti Malhotra's Kannur trip was sponsored by Kerala Tourism, run by none other than Pinarayi Vijayan's son-in-law. Who did she meet? Where did she go? What's the real agenda? Why is Kerala rolling out red carpets for a Pak-linked spy?@pinarayivijayan is turning… — K Surendran (@surendranbjp) May 31, 2025 Training his gun further on the CM, he wrote, "Why is Kerala rolling out red carpets for a Pak-linked spy? Pinarayi Vijayan is turning Kerala into a safe havan for internal and external threats to our nation." Arrest and Allegations Against Jyoti Malhotra Jyoti Malhotra, creator of the 'Travel with JO' YouTube channel, was arrested under Operation Sindoor, a crackdown on an alleged ISI-backed spy network. She faces charges under the Official Secrets Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for her alleged involvement in espionage activities. Investigation Reveals Malhotra's Links to ISI Investigations revealed that Malhotra maintained direct contact with Pakistan's ISI, passed sensitive data, and had multiple interactions at the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi. She reportedly made two trips to Pakistan, including a visit to Lahore's Anarkali Bazaar, where she was seen under armed escort. Malhotra was remanded to 14-day judicial custody on May 26, 2025
