Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], July 17 (HBTV): Jyoti Malhotra, a 33-year-old vlogger from Haryana who was recently arrested on charges of espionage for Pakistan, had earlier visited Kerala on an official invitation from the state government, according to a Right to Information (RTI) reply that has surfaced.

Malhotra had been part of a tourism promotion campaign organised by the Kerala Tourism Department, which had invited a group of social media influencers to enhance the state’s digital presence as a travel destination. The RTI response confirms that her travel, accommodation, and itinerary expenses were fully funded by the department during her visit.

According to official records, Jyoti Malhotra visited Kannur, Kozhikode, Kochi, Alappuzha, and Munnar between 2024 and 2025 under the government’s influencer collaboration initiative. Her name appeared alongside several other digital creators active between January 2024 and May 2025.

Subsequent investigations have revealed that Malhotra had travelled to Pakistan multiple times and had developed contacts with officials linked to Pakistani intelligence agencies, including individuals from the Pakistan High Commission. One such official was later expelled by India after the connection became known.

Malhotra is among 12 individuals arrested across Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh as part of a coordinated crackdown on an alleged spy ring that reportedly targeted Indian social media influencers to gather intelligence.

Her YouTube channel, Travel with Jo, features 487 videos, many of which are from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Thailand. One of her earlier viral videos showed her wearing a Kerala sari and attending a Theyyam performance in Kannur.

(ANI)