Haryana YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra was hired by Kerala Tourism, reveals RTI

Jyoti Malhotra, a 33-year-old travel vlogger from Haryana, who was recently arrested on charges of spying for Pakistan, had previously been engaged by the Kerala Tourism Department as part of its official digital influencer campaign, an RTI response has revealed.

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Malhotra, known for her YouTube channel Travel with Jo, was selected from a group of social media influencers invited by the Kerala government between 2024 and 2025 to promote the state as a global travel destination.

When I raised this a month ago, Kerala’s mainstream media turned a blind eye.

Now, RTI documents prove every word I said.

Why did Kerala Tourism, controlled by CM’s son-in-law, sponsor a Pak-linked spy’s trip?

Kerala’s security is not your family business, Mr.… pic.twitter.com/Yx1yYfQMHR

— K Surendran (@surendranbjp) July 6, 2025

The government funded her travel, accommodation, and itinerary expenses under its influencer collaboration initiative aimed at enhancing Kerala’s tourism visibility online.

During this period, Malhotra visited prominent locations such as Kannur, Kozhikode, Kochi, Alappuzha, and Munnar, creating content that attracted a large audience.

One of her notable videos featured her wearing a traditional Kerala sari while attending a Theyyam ritual in Kannur.

However, her recent arrest has cast a shadow over the programme, with Indian intelligence agencies investigating allegations that Malhotra had made multiple trips to Pakistan and maintained contact with Pakistani intelligence operatives, including officials at the Pakistan High Commission in India.

Following these revelations, one Pakistani official was reportedly expelled.

Malhotra’s detention is part of a wider crackdown involving 12 suspects across Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, accused of forming an espionage network using digital platforms and influencer networks to gather intelligence.