Yatri Doctor, a well-known Indian travel vlogger and YouTuber, is currently facing intense scrutiny on social media after the arrest of his acquaintance, Jyoti Malhotra, on charges of espionage for Pakistan. Despite the widespread online speculation and the circulation of old videos and photos, there has been no official mention of Yatri Doctor by the police or any investigative agency. He has not been arrested or named in any inquiry, and he has publicly denied all allegations, calling them baseless and part of a “fake narrative”.

Who is Yatri Doctor?

Navankur Chaudhary, better known as Yatri Doctor, is a doctor-turned-travel content creator. He was born on 2 March 1996 in Rohtak, Haryana, and completed his MBBS from Madras Medical College in 2015. In 2017, he left his medical career to pursue his passion for travel. He runs the YouTube channel “Yatri Doctor,” which has about 1.75 million subscribers, and his Instagram account has over 6.5 lakh followers. To date, he has travelled to 144 countries and aims to visit all 197 recognised nations.

Yatri Doctor is known for his simple, informative travel videos. His content is appreciated for its raw and unfiltered style, with minimal editing. He often shares practical tips and honest reviews, helping viewers plan their own trips efficiently. His videos are made with the intention of providing genuine information rather than showcasing a glamorous, heavily edited version of travel. This approach has earned him a loyal following among Indian travel enthusiasts.

The Current Controversy and Social Media Reaction

The controversy began after the arrest of Jyoti Malhotra, who runs the “Travel with Jo” YouTube channel, on charges of passing sensitive information to Pakistani handlers. Following her arrest, social media users started sharing old videos of Yatri Doctor, including footage of him attending an event at the Pakistan High Commission, making remarks about a BSF jawan, and a clip that allegedly shows an incorrect map of India. These posts led to a wave of online allegations, with some users questioning his patriotism and suggesting links to espionage.

In response, Yatri Doctor released a video statement from Ireland, where he is currently travelling, firmly denying any involvement in espionage. He clarified that he has visited Pakistan only once, as part of his goal to visit every country in the world, and not for any suspicious purpose. He also stated that he is not under investigation by any Indian agency and is ready to cooperate fully if approached by authorities.

Addressing his connection to Jyoti Malhotra, Yatri Doctor explained that she had approached him as a fan. He said that before their brief meeting, he did not know her personally. Their interaction was limited to a short conversation about YouTube and travel content. He emphasised that he treats all his fans equally and cannot be expected to know the personal backgrounds of everyone who approaches him.

Support from Passenger Paramvir

During this period, Yatri Doctor’s friend and fellow traveller, Passenger Paramvir, has spoken in his support. Paramvir, who has accompanied Yatri Doctor on several trips, including their journey to New Zealand last year, described him as a genuine and passionate traveller. Paramvir highlighted that Yatri Doctor’s videos are straightforward and meant to help viewers, not to mislead or hide information. He recalled their experiences travelling together and vouched for Yatri Doctor’s integrity and commitment to honest content creation.