In a case that has sent shockwaves across India, the arrest of Haryana-based travel vlogger Jyoti Malhotra on charges of espionage for Pakistan has unveiled a complex web of deceit involving digital platforms, international travel, and unsuspecting associations.

The investigation has further led to scrutiny of Odisha-based YouTuber Priyanka Senapati, highlighting the far-reaching implications of modern espionage tactics and the misuse of social media by foreign intelligence operatives.

The Arrest of Jyoti Malhotra: A Digital Persona Unmasked

Jyoti Malhotra, popularly known by her online alias ‘Travel with Jo,’ had built a reputable following across YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat by documenting her travels.

On May 16, 2025, Malhotra was arrested by the Haryana Police in Hisar under Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Sections 3 and 5 of the Official Secrets Act for allegedly leaking sensitive information to Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

Investigations revealed that Malhotra had been communicating with Pakistani intelligence handlers through encrypted messaging platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Snapchat.

She reportedly saved these contacts under aliases such as ‘Jatt Randhawa’ and ‘Shakir’ to avoid detection. Authorities also confirmed that Malhotra had been groomed online by ISI operatives, with whom she developed romantic and financial relationships, receiving gifts, foreign travel, and monetary incentives for her cooperation.

Significantly, Malhotra was found to have visited several strategic and sensitive locations in India, including military installations and border areas like Pangong Lake, Leh, and Pahalgam. 

She created vlogs from these sites, often accompanied by footage and commentary that, investigators now suspect, could be used to assess defence movements and infrastructure. The YouTube channel she operated is now under forensic examination.

Sources in the Indian defence establishment have confirmed that Malhotra remained in contact with her Pakistani handlers even during sensitive military exercises.

ALSO READ: YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra was in direct touch with Pakistan on day of Pahalgam terror attack

The Odisha Link: Spotlight on Priyanka Senapati

As investigators combed through Malhotra’s digital records, they stumbled upon her September 2024 visit to Odisha.

During that visit, Malhotra was frequently accompanied by Priyanka Senapati, a Puri-based YouTuber known for her religious and travel content. Senapati has over 14,600 subscribers on YouTube and has featured Malhotra in at least two videos documenting visits to the Jagannath Temple and Konark Sun Temple.

Authorities noted Senapati's active role in arranging travel, accommodations, and temple access for Malhotra during the Puri visit.

Though such collaboration is common among content creators, the Intelligence Bureau flagged this association for two reasons: Malhotra's proximity to strategic temple surveillance infrastructure and Senapati's prior visit to Pakistan in early 2023 via the Kartarpur Corridor.

Senapati’s vlog about the Kartarpur visit was uploaded to her YouTube channel in February 2023 and has garnered over 150,000 views. Investigators are now examining whether the visit was a genuine pilgrimage or part of a broader influence network aiming to create public legitimacy for operatives like Malhotra.