The arrest of popular YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra by Haryana Police on suspicion of espionage for Pakistan has taken a significant turn, with investigators now probing her travel links to Kolkata and other strategically sensitive locations across West Bengal.
Videos Shot at Key Locations Raise Security Alarms
According to police sources, Jyoti Malhotra had visited Kolkata a few months ago, where she recorded videos at prominent public spaces. One such video featured a moving train at Sealdah station, while another was filmed at a popular Biryani restaurant in Barrackpore, North 24 Parganas — an area known for military installations and an Indian Air Force base.
A senior official of the Special Task Force (STF) of Kolkata Police said, “Though we’ve received no official complaint yet, we are aware of her activities and have initiated a preliminary inquiry. In cases of national security, we coordinate closely with other states and central intelligence agencies.”
Investigators Examine Possible Surveillance Mission
Investigating officers are probing whether her visit to Barrackpore was aimed at capturing visuals of military zones. Her presence at a wedding in Sheoraphuli, Hooghly, is also under scrutiny, with police trying to establish the nature of her ties with the hosts and the intent behind her attendance.
Siliguri Visit Deepens Intelligence Concerns
Authorities are also examining a video Jyoti posted on August 26, detailing her flight journey from Delhi to Bagdogra, en route to Bhutan. Her stopover in Siliguri, a crucial transit corridor connecting the Northeast with mainland India and surrounded by Army camps, has raised red flags among intelligence officials.
Pattern of Travel Suggests Strategic Targeting
A worrying pattern has emerged: her travel locations — from Barrackpore to Siliguri and parts of Kolkata — consistently intersect with military or strategically important zones. Investigators are now examining whether this was a systematic effort to gather sensitive information under the pretext of travel vlogging.
Visit to Odisha Sparks Further Questions
Sources in the state Intelligence Branch (IB) confirmed that Jyoti Malhotra had also toured Odisha’s Jagannath Dham in Puri and filmed several sites, including the Konark Sun Temple. She was accompanied by another female YouTuber during this visit, prompting officials to consider the possibility of a larger espionage network operating under the guise of content creation.
Central Agencies Step In Amid Expanding Probe
With central intelligence agencies now roped in and inter-state coordination underway, the case appears to be evolving into a potential cross-border surveillance operation camouflaged as digital tourism and social media content generation.
