Kolkata influencer shares details about arrested YouTuber linked to espionage case
Times of India | 20 May 2025
123 Kolkata: A Kolkata-based social media influencer, hailing from Asansol and presently under the scanner of security agencies, has come forward with details about his interactions with Jyoti Malhotra, the YouTuber recently arrested on espionage charges for Pakistan's ISI.Jyoti met him during her visit to the city in Feb this year.The influencer revealed that he first met Malhotra during the Ram Temple inauguration last year in Ayodhya. Their paths crossed again when she returned to Kolkata earlier this year for content creation. "We visited several locations, including a famous biryani shop in Barrackpore," the influencer told reporters, emphasizing that Malhotra showed no interest in the nearby military and air force bases. Their itinerary included travels from Manirampur Ghat to Seoraphuli and attendance at another influencer's wedding in Howrah.The Kolkata influencer expressed shock at the developments. "I am truly shocked. This tarnishes the reputation of those like us who vlog," he said, adding that he was not contacted by investigators and has no connection to the other arrested individuals.Malhotra, who was arrested last Saturday by Haryana Police along with five others, documented her Kolkata visit through various social media posts. She later travelled to Pakistan in March, sharing videos of her visits to Lahore's Anarkali Bazaar and the Katas Raj Temple.Hisar District Police superintendent Shashank Kumar Sawant confirmed that investigations are ongoing regarding potential links between Malhotra's Pakistan trip and recent India-Pakistan tensions following the Pahalgam incident. ‘She established connections with Pakistani officials, who turned her into an asset," Sawant said.Prior to her Pakistan visit, Malhotra attended an Iftar party at the Pakistani High Commission in Delhi. Police are currently examining her social media content and travel history for additional evidence.