Was Arrested 'Spy' YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra Hired By Kerala Government For Tourism Promotion?
Thiruvananthapuram: A controversy erupted in Kerala following the revelation that YouTuber and influencer Jyoti Malhotra, who was recently arrested on allegations of spying for Pakistan, was an invited and sponsored guest of the state’s Tourism Department. The disclosure, which came to light through a Right to Information (RTI) query, has put the Kerala government in a difficult position, raising serious questions about its selection process for tourism promotion.
After the revelations emerged, Ms Malhotra’s videos of her promoting tourists’ attractions including Kannur, Kozhikode, Kochi, Munnar, Alappuzha and Varkala is viral on social media. The development has also taken a political dimension with the Congress and BJP making allegations on the government for its callousness.
According to the RTI response, Jyoti Malhotra was part of a cohort of social media influencers engaged by the Kerala Tourism Department to market the state’s attractions to a wider audience. The department reportedly funded her travel and stay in Kerala between 2024 and 2025, during which she produced vlogs about her experiences in various tourist spots across the state.
The news has triggered a political backlash, with opposition leaders demanding an explanation from the government. They have questioned the due diligence performed before engaging individuals for official promotional activities, especially those with a significant online presence.
In response to the mounting criticism, the Kerala Tourism Minister stated that the government had no knowledge of Malhotra’s alleged espionage links when she was invited. He maintained that she was chosen as part of a routine promotional campaign and that the government had acted in good faith. “She was one among many influencers we have worked with. It is unfortunate that these allegations have surfaced,” he told reporters.
The Hisar-based YouTuber was arrested in May 2025 on serious charges of espionage. The 33-year-old travel vlogger, who runs the channel “Travel with JO,” is accused of passing sensitive information to Pakistani intelligence operatives. Investigations revealed she was in contact with a staffer at the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi, who was subsequently expelled. Malhotra, currently in judicial custody, was booked under the Official Secrets Act.
Following her arrest, a video has surfaced and gone viral in which she is heard identifying herself as a “BJP Karyakarta” (party worker) from Haryana. The clip appears to be from one of her vlogs filmed at the India-Pakistan border.
In the widely circulated video, when asked about her identity by someone off-camera, Malhotra responds, “Main Jyoti, BJP Karyakarta, Haryana se” (I am Jyoti, a BJP worker from Haryana).
This video has intensified the political controversy surrounding her arrest, particularly as it contradicts earlier clarifications that images showing her with political affiliations were AI-generated fakes.
Several news outlets and social media users have shared the clip, contrasting it with the BJP’s attempts to distance itself from the accused spy. While the BJP has not issued a formal statement specifically addressing this video, the party has been critical of the Kerala LDF government for officially hosting Malhotra for tourism promotion.
