In a recent revelation, before her recent arrest on espionage charges, Jyoti Malhotra, a travel vlogger from Sirsa, Haryana, was among the people invited by Kerala for a state-run influencer collaboration programme to boost the tourism industry.
According to a report by Mathrubhumi, Malhotra was one of 41 social media influencers picked by the Kerala Tourism Department as part of an influencer outreach campaign, according to an inquiry submitted under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. The reports have further revealed that the travel, lodging, and food costs of the influencers were paid for by the state government. A private company was also hired to assist the influencers with video production.
Booked under provisions of the Official Secrets Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Jyoti was arrested on 16 May by the Hisar police on suspicion of espionage. The police have claimed Pakistani intelligence operatives were developing Jyoti as an asset.
Not propaganda, invited along with other influencers: Kerala tourism minister
While refuting the accusations against the state government for inviting Jyoti as guest, Kerala Tourism Minister PA Mohammed Riyas called them as "pure propaganda" and affirmed that the government "would never knowingly invite a spy."
He added, "This was part of a larger influencer campaign aimed at promoting Kerala. Everything was done transparently and in good faith. This is not a government that facilitates espionage. The media must understand how government systems work. No one could have foreseen this."
Also Read: 11 'Pakistani spies' held in India: From YouTuber to student
Report is evidence that Jyoti was a 'spy': BJP
"It is now in black and white. It is evident from the RTI that Jyoti Malhotra, the Pakistani spy, was a state-sponsored guest of the Vijayan government. The Vijayan government and his son-in-law, the tourism minister, were rolling out the red carpet for this Pakistani spy. But they are saying red stop, no entry for Bharat Mata", said BJP Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla.
"They give a platform to Hamas. They eulogise terrorists. They stand in support of PFI. They are the ones who even show solidarity for Naxals... The minister concerned should be asked to step down immediately. It is a huge cause of concern for our national security," he then added.
BJP trying to drag Kerala govt in the case: CPI condemns the report -
The Communist Party of India (CPI) strongly denounced RTI reports of YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, who has been arrested on espionage charges, being invited by the Kerala government to promote tourism in the south Indian state.
"The Communist Party of India strongly condemns the BJP's attempt to drag the Kerala government into the Jyoti Malhotra espionage case to cover up its own grave failures on national security," CPI MP P Sandosh Kumar said in a statement.
Kumar said it was outrageous to suggest that a state government was responsible for a YouTuber's travel to Pakistan when passport issuance, visa clearance, and intelligence monitoring are all under the control of the Union government.
"Did the Kerala government approve her visits to Pakistan? Did it place her in contact with ISI handlers in Delhi? This is a desperate and politically motivated deflection," he said.
He added that the BJP has a long list of embarrassments involving its members linked to "espionage and terrorism."
"Dhruv Saxena from its IT Cell in Bhopal, Bajrang Dal's Balram Singh, LeT terrorist Talib Shah who was appointed BJP Minority Morcha IT head, and former BJP leader Tariq Mir arrested for arms supply to militants. Even DSP Davinder Singh, awarded the President's Medal, was caught escorting Hizbul terrorists and later linked to Pakistani handlers. This is the BJP's real national security record," he said.
Also Read: Judicial custody of Jyoti Malhotra and Jasbir Singh extended
Kumar then pointed out that the perpetrators of the 22 April Pahalgam terror attack were yet to be traced and arrested.
"Instead of taking responsibility, the BJP is now targeting Kerala over a routine tourism event Malhotra once attended despite no link between that and her ISI recruitment. The Centre's own agencies failed to detect multiple Pakistan trips and foreign funding, all under their direct jurisdiction," he said.
National security is a central subject, and the BJP, which governs the Centre, cannot wash its hands of "repeated intelligence lapses and the growing list of individuals with links to espionage and terror from within its fold," the CPI leader said.
"The people of India deserve accountability, not scapegoating and political vendetta," he added.
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