New Delhi: The father of Jyoti Malhotra, the YouTuber who was apprehended on suspicion of espionage for Pakistan, has stated that he was unaware of his daughter’s travels to the neighbouring country.
Harish Malhotra also disclosed that he was unaware of his daughter’s YouTube channel or other social media accounts during an interview with the news agency ANI.
Last week, Jyoti Malhotra, a resident of Hisar in Haryana, was apprehended on suspicion of disclosing Indian military information to Pakistan. Malhotra operates a YouTube channel named “Travel with JO” and has nearly four lakh subscribers. The 33-year-old had visited Pakistan at least twice and had interacted with an official from the Pakistan High Commission, according to the police.
“She would inform me that she was travelling to Delhi.” Mr. Malhotra retracted his previous assertion that Jyoti had travelled to Pakistan to film videos, stating, “She never disclosed any information to me.”
He further stated, “She was known to produce videos at her residence.”
Jyoti had published over 450 videos to her YouTube channel. Some of her videos also featured her visit to Pakistan, including “Indian Girl in Pakistan,” “Indian Girl Exploring Lahore,” “Indian Girl at Katas Raj Temple,” and “Indian Girl Rides Luxury Bus in Pakistan.”
Mr. Malhotra stated that she was employed in Delhi prior to the COVID-19 pandemic; however, she subsequently resigned.
Jyoti Malhotra visited Kashmir and Pakistan prior to the Pahalgam attack.
According to the police, Jyoti Malhotra visited Pakistan and travelled to Kashmir prior to the April 22 Pahalgam assault. Shashank Kumar Sawan, the Superintendent of Police in Hisar, informed reporters on Sunday that the police are currently investigating the potential connection between these visits.
He also stated that Pakistani intelligence operatives were preparing the YouTuber to serve as an asset.
During the four-day military conflict between India and Pakistan that ensued after the Pahalgam incident, which resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals, she was purportedly in contact with a Pakistani officer stationed at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.
Additionally, Mr. Sawan claimed that she had purportedly encountered several prominent figures in Pakistan.
Jyoti Malhotra is one of at least 12 individuals who have been apprehended for purportedly espionage for Pakistan.
The arrests occur in response to the Pahalgam assault, which has resulted in heightened tensions between India and Pakistan.
On May 7, India initiated Operation Sindoor to target terror facilities in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) after identifying cross-border connections to the attack.
Subsequently, Pakistan initiated an extensive drone and missile assault; however, the threats were successfully mitigated. Indian forces responded by attacking Pakistani airfields. The hostilities were concluded on May 10 by a ceasefire.
