Travel blogger Jyoti Malhotra, currently in the eye of a high-profile spy saga, has been mired deeper in controversy after an archived video surfaced. In the video posted on Instagram after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, Malhotra called on citizens to take responsibility as much as the government. The attack killed 26 people—mostly tourists—and prompted Operation Sindoor and escalated into a low but intense four-day war with Pakistan.
In the viral clip, the Haryana YouTuber, whose channel name is ‘Travel with Jo’, is heard saying, “Not just the government, this (attack) is the responsibility of every individual who visits these places and should be watchful. I know J&K has high security, and there are Army and police personnel in every corner. If something like this has happened despite that, then we are also at fault in some way. Perhaps we weren’t watchful (enough), which is why this happened. We should be watchful and responsible.”
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Controversial Remarks by Jyoti Malhotra
Her words, although perhaps aimed at promoting civic awareness, now raise uncomfortable questions following her arrest for allegedly assisting Pakistani intelligence agents. She continued, “If anybody is supporting those terrorists, then we are not Indian. If we are only corrupt and wrong, then that is soul-wrenching. It’s very wrong for any country. If anybody has supported those terrorists, it is wrong. We are ourselves responsible for that. Our government is responsible because somewhere, there was a lapse in security. Something went wrong because of which such a big attack happened.”
These declarations take a diametrically opposite view of the espionage accusations leveled against her, rendering her statement either profoundly ironic or perilously deceitful.
From Travel Diaries to Espionage Files
Malhotra’s transition from a successful travel blogger to a suspected spy has shocked the public. Her upbeat travel videos had more than 377,000 YouTube subscribers, and her alleged dual life remained hidden behind them. As per the FIR lodged at Hisar Civil Lines Police Station, she had met Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, who works as a staffer at the Pakistan High Commission, on a 2023 visit. As her handler, Danish is said to have introduced her to various Pakistani Intelligence Operatives (PIOs) and kept an encrypted contact with them.
Jyoti Malhotra allegedly traveled to Pakistan twice in 2023 and met handlers Ali Ehwan, Shakir, and Rana Shahbaz. To evade detection, she stored contacts under nicknames such as “Jatt Randhawa.” Currently booked under Sections 3, 4, and 5 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923, and Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, she is still in custody under police remand as investigations go deeper.
Need for Vigilance on Social Influence and National Security
The surfaced clip reminds us of a significant concern—the power held by social media influencers. With her account having gone dormant now, her case highlights an imperative for greater scrutiny of the role played by influencers in national conversation. The country needs to come to terms with the double danger of an external enemy and inner weakness covered up by charm and online presence.
