The father of Jyoti Malhotra, a prominent Indian YouTuber recently arrested on charges of espionage for Pakistan, has expressed shock and dismay, asserting that he was completely unaware of his daughter’s alleged visits to the neighbouring country. According to Harish Malhotra, his daughter would consistently tell the family she was traveling to Delhi, never mentioning any trips across the border.
Jyoti Malhotra, known by her YouTube channel “Travel with JO” which boasts nearly 400,000 subscribers, was apprehended last week from Hisar, Haryana. Police allege that the 33-year-old was in contact with an official from the Pakistan High Commission and had traveled to Pakistan at least twice, sharing sensitive Indian military information.
Speaking to the news agency ANI, Harish Malhotra stated, “She used to tell me that she was going to Delhi. She never told me anything.” This statement marks a significant backtracking from his earlier remarks where he had reportedly indicated that Jyoti had visited Pakistan for shooting videos and had the necessary permissions. He also claimed to be unaware of his daughter’s extensive social media presence or her YouTube channel.
Police sources reveal that Jyoti Malhotra had uploaded over 450 videos on her channel, some of which explicitly documented her visits to Pakistan, with titles such as ‘Indian Girl in Pakistan,’ ‘Indian Girl Exploring Lahore,’ and ‘Indian Girl at Katas Raj Temple.’
The investigation into Malhotra’s activities has intensified, with police probing potential links to the recent Pahalgam attack in Jammu and Kashmir. Hisar Superintendent of Police Shashank Kumar Sawan stated that Pakistani intelligence operatives were allegedly “grooming” the YouTuber as an asset. It is suspected that she maintained contact with a Pakistani officer stationed at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi even during heightened military tensions between India and Pakistan.
The arrest of Jyoti Malhotra is part of a wider crackdown, with at least 12 individuals reportedly arrested on similar charges of spying for Pakistan. Authorities are also investigating the financial aspects of her numerous international travels, as her disclosed income reportedly doesn’t align with her extensive travel history, raising questions about the funding of her trips.
This developing story highlights the complex interplay of social media influence, cross-border relations, and national security, leaving many questions unanswered as the investigation continues.