Two days after the arrest of Hisar-based YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra on espionage charges, Hisar SP Shashank Kumar Sawan revealed that she was being groomed by Pakistani intelligence operatives (PIOs) to serve as an asset. The revelations came during a press conference held on Sunday, where the SP detailed the seriousness of the situation.
Also Read: Air Sirens In Chandigarh Again
According to SP Sawan, Malhotra had visited Pakistan multiple times, including one visit shortly before the Pahalgam terror attack. She had also traveled to China. These frequent foreign visits raised suspicions and drew the attention of central intelligence agencies.
YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra under scanner for espionage links with Pakistan and China
SP Sawan further stated that central agencies had alerted the Haryana Police about efforts by PIOs to recruit social media influencers to spread soft propaganda. Following her arrest on Friday, Malhotra has been placed in police custody for a five-day interrogation to probe deeper into the matter.
Also Read: Srihari LR Joins Elite Club as India’s 86th Chess Grandmaster
Travel blogger front, finances under probe: “She is being interrogated by the Haryana Police, in coordination with central agencies. We are analysing her financial transactions and travel history to determine the sources of her income,” said SP Sawan. “Her known income sources do not justify her foreign travel. We suspect external funding. On the surface, she was just a travel blogger,” he added.
The SP confirmed that Malhotra was in direct contact with PIOs, including individuals declared persona non grata by India. While she did not have direct access to sensitive defence information, her communication with PIOs during periods of heightened tension between India and Pakistan was “alarming.”
Also Read: India revokes license of Turkish firm Celebi Aviation
[…] Also Read : YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra visited Pakistan prior to the Pahalgam attack, and had earlier t… […]