Odisha vlogger under scrutiny following arrest of YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra in espionage case

Bhubaneswar: Following the arrest of popular Haryana-based travel vlogger Jyoti Malhotra on charges of espionage for Pakistan, Puri police have launched an investigation into her possible links with Odisha-based YouTuber Priyanka Senapati.

“We are examining the case from all perspectives, including the nature of their relationship and Priyanka’s recent travel to the Kartarpur Corridor in Pakistan,” said Puri Superintendent of Police Vinit Agrawal. “Coordination is ongoing with central and state intelligence agencies, as well as Haryana police. All verified findings will be shared with the media once the investigation concludes,” he said.

Reports indicate that Jyoti Malhotra, who runs the travel vlog channel *Travel with JO*, visited the Jagannath Temple in Puri in September last year. During her stay, she was accompanied by Priyanka Senapati, a local travel vlogger. Authorities are currently verifying the details of that visit.

“Jyoti reportedly stayed in Puri for a couple of days during her trip. This is being verified. The core investigation into the espionage case is being led by Haryana police, and we are ready to assist if needed,” Agrawal added.

On the potential arrest of Senapati, he noted: “All relevant information is being verified. She is cooperating with our team and currently remains at her residence in Puri. If the evidence warrants, we will take appropriate legal action, including arrest.”

Priyanka had recently travelled to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, Pakistan via Amritsar and documented the journey on her YouTube channel, where she was seen praising Pakistani tourists—drawing further scrutiny.

Who is Jyoti Malhotra?

Jyoti Malhotra is a Haryana-based YouTuber who gained popularity through her channel *Travel with JO*. She was arrested for allegedly passing sensitive information to Pakistani intelligence operatives. Authorities began monitoring her after she developed ties with officials at the Pakistan High Commission in India.

In one instance, Malhotra attended an Iftar party at the High Commission on special invitation. Footage from her channel shows her interacting closely with Ehsan-ur-Rahim, alias Danish, an official later declared *persona non grata* and expelled from India on May 13 for espionage.

Investigators have discovered that Malhotra had traveled to Pakistan multiple times and was romantically involved with a Pakistani intelligence operative. She also accompanied him on a trip to Bali. Communications between Malhotra and several Pakistani operatives were found on platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Snapchat, with contact details saved under false identities to evade detection.