Jyoti Malhotra Spy Case: RTI Reveals Kerala Government Invited the Hisar YouTuber Now Accused of Spying for Pakistan
The arrest of Haryana-based YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra on charges of espionage for Pakistan has taken a dramatic turn with a new revelation made through the Right to Information (RTI) Act. According to an RTI response, Jyoti Malhotra had visited Kerala earlier this year on an official invitation extended by the Kerala state government under its tourism promotion initiative.
The development has triggered a political controversy, with the BJP accusing the CPI(M)-led government of giving red carpet treatment to an alleged Pakistani spy. The issue has not only raised questions about state-level vetting procedures but also shed light on the growing use of social media influencers in strategic tourism campaigns.
Kerala Tourism Minister Confirms the Invite
Kerala’s Tourism Minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas confirmed that Jyoti Malhotra, along with other vloggers, was invited as part of a state-sponsored influencer programme to promote Kerala’s tourism. “We invited YouTubers with good intentions. The expenses were borne by the government. Do you really think the state would invite someone for spying purposes and facilitate everything for them?” the minister said in a press statement.
The invitation was extended months before Malhotra’s arrest, and it included stays in premium houseboats like the Jandari Riverscapes, costing up to Rs 15,000 per night, all paid for by the state tourism department. Malhotra created several travel videos in Kochi, Munnar, Kannur, Kozhikode, Alappuzha, and Thiruvananthapuram, uploading them on her YouTube channel on January 31, 2025.
Arrest and Spy Allegations
Jyoti Malhotra was arrested on May 16, 2025, from her residence in Hisar following two days of interrogation. Her arrest came in the wake of ‘Operation Sindoor’—an airstrike launched by India in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack. According to sources, her name surfaced during the interrogation of another suspect, Ghazala Khatoon, who was arrested on May 8 in Punjab’s Malerkotla for allegedly spying for Pakistan.
It was revealed that Ghazala had connections with Danish, a Pakistani diplomat based in New Delhi. Danish had reportedly contacted Ghazala and later sent her money in exchange for sensitive information. During interrogation, Ghazala revealed that another individual from Hisar—later identified as Jyoti—was also in contact with Danish.
Subsequently, central agencies tracked Jyoti’s digital footprints and seized her phone and laptop. Although no classified military information was found, she was still arrested on charges under the newly introduced Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Section 152, which is equivalent to the previously struck-down sedition law (IPC 124-A).
Legal Proceedings and Defense Arguments
Jyoti Malhotra has appeared in court five times, with her sixth virtual hearing scheduled for July 7, 2025. During her last appearance on June 23, she was remanded to 14 days of judicial custody.
Her lawyer, Kumar Mukesh, has strongly opposed the arrest and detention, citing the following five key arguments:
- BNS Not Applicable Retroactively: Malhotra’s alleged visit to the Pakistani High Commission occurred in 2023, before the BNS came into effect. Hence, applying Section 152 retroactively is unconstitutional.
- No Classified Information Found: The FIR includes charges under the Official Secrets Act (Sections 3 and 5), yet the SP of Hisar stated that no sensitive military or strategic data was recovered from Malhotra’s devices.
- Co-Accused Released, Why Not Jyoti?: A co-accused, Harkirat Singh, was released after surrendering two mobile phones. The continued detention of Jyoti, despite similar circumstances, is unjustified.
- Made a Witness Against Herself: The FIR relies heavily on statements allegedly made by Jyoti during interrogation. This violates Article 20 of the Indian Constitution, which protects individuals from being forced to incriminate themselves.
- No Concrete Evidence Presented: Till now, police have not submitted any solid proof directly implicating Jyoti in espionage.
BJP vs. Kerala Govt: Political Uproar
Following the RTI revelation, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla slammed the Kerala government. “The RTI proves that a Pakistani spy was invited as a state guest by the leftist government. Kerala Tourism Minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas, who is also CM Pinarayi Vijayan’s son-in-law, must be sacked and investigated,” Poonawalla demanded.
The BJP has also raised questions about the vetting mechanisms in place when influencers are selected for government-sponsored programmes, especially those who are later accused of serious charges like espionage.
The Bigger Picture: Social Media and National Security
The Jyoti Malhotra case presents a complex intersection of digital influence, national security, and political accountability. It raises important concerns regarding the unchecked reach of social media influencers and the need for better background checks when involving them in state-sponsored campaigns.
The central agencies continue their probe into the Pakistani diplomat Danish and his network of informants across India. Jyoti remains in custody, awaiting the next stage of legal proceedings, as her case now becomes a high-profile example of how digital platforms and state mechanisms may unknowingly become entangled in national security matters.
