An RTI response has established that Jyoti Malhotra, a YouTube personality at present in police custody on charges of spying for Pakistan, was previously invited by the state government to Kerala for an official tourism promotion campaign.
As per the RTI reply that has now emerged in the public domain, Malhotra’s stay, travel, and itinerary costs were all paid for by Kerala’s tourism department. The trip was part of a state-sponsored influencer outreach program aimed at promoting Kerala’s image as a digital tourism destination, an ANI news report said.
The 33-year-old YouTuber from Haryana, running the channel Travel with Jo, was one of a number of influencers hired by the tourism department between January 2024 and May 2025. Over these six months, Malhotra visited various places in Kerala including Kannur, Kozhikode, Kochi, Alappuzha, and Munnar.
In one of her viral videos, she can be seen dressed in a traditional Kerala sari at a Theyyam performance in Kannur.
Investigators Trace Links to Pakistani Intelligence
Malhotra’s travel history has become a significant part of the ongoing investigation, as she made multiple visits to Pakistan and allegedly established links with Pakistani intelligence officials.
Officials revealed that one of her known contacts was a staffer at the Pakistan High Commission, Ehsan-ur-Rahim, also known as Danish, who was expelled by the Indian government on May 13 following espionage allegations.
Although police have not yet discovered any military-related information in her possession, investigators assert she was “knowingly in touch with people associated with the Pakistani intelligence community.”
Arrest and Ongoing Legal Proceedings
Malhotra was arrested on 16 May from the area of New Aggarsain Extension and booked under the Official Secrets Act and corresponding sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Earlier, her bail plea was turned down by judicial magistrate first class Sunil Kumar on June 12. We will move a bail application in the district sessions court. It’s a routine process to produce her in court after 14 days and extend the judicial custody until she obtains a regular bail,” said her lawyer Kumar Mukesh.
The court also extended her judicial custody on June 23, and the next date of hearing is July 7.
Part of Broader Espionage Crackdown
Malhotra is one of 12 people arrested across Haryana, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh as part of a coordinated crackdown against a suspected network of espionage. The network allegedly wanted to recruit Indian content creators and influencers to obtain sensitive information.
Her channel has more than 480 travel videos of places such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Thailand.
