In a recent development, BJP leader and former Kerala state president K Surendran has alleged that Jyoti Malhotra, a travel vlogger arrested for espionage, was hosted by the Kerala Tourism Department during her visit to Kannur district in the state. The department is overseen by Tourism Minister PA Mohammed Riyas, who is also the son-in-law of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
Surendran took to social media platform ‘X’ to question the purpose behind Malhotra’s Kerala trip. He stated, “Pak-Spy Jyoti Malhotra’s Kannur trip was sponsored by Kerala Tourism, run by none other than Pinarayi Vijayan’s son-in-law. Who did she meet? Where did she go? What’s the real agenda? Why is Kerala rolling out red carpets for a Pak-linked spy?”
From Kannur to Pakistan: Tracing Jyoti Malhotra’s Controversial Journey
Jyoti reached Kerala in January 2025 after completing a five-day tour of Jammu and Kashmir in December 2024. She first arrived in Kannur on January 15. She visited the Kashipuram Vanasastha Temple in Alakkad, Kannur. The Ezhimala Naval Training Academy is located just 17 km from Alakkad. This Alakkad (20 km) is only about thirty minutes from the infamous Padanna village in Kasaragod district. Notably, around 11 youths from Padanna had previously joined the Islamic terrorist organisation ISIS. Kasaragod district also has a long-standing history of terrorist activities and hawala money transfers. Later, Jyoti also visited strategic locations in Kochi. About a month after her visit to Kerala, Jyoti travelled to Pakistan. After her trip to Kashmir, she visited Kerala, took part in the Mahakumbh Mela, and then proceeded to Pakistan.
Jyoti Malhotra’s visits to Kashmir and Kerala were accompanied by Odia YouTuber Priyanka Senapati. Priyanka has made several trips to Pakistan in the past. Whether Jyoti Malhotra’s suspicious visits to Kerala were aimed at gathering information or recruiting individuals for terrorist activities warrants investigation. Furthermore, those who met Jyoti in Kerala should be thoroughly investigated.
Jyoti Malhotra and Her Arrest
Malhotra, a native of Hisar and the creator of the YouTube channel ‘Travel with JO’, was taken into custody as part of Operation Sindoor, a joint operation spanning Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh aimed at dismantling a suspected ISI-linked spy ring. She has been booked under the Official Secrets Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita..Investigators disclosed that Malhotra was in direct communication with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), allegedly transmitted classified information, and held several meetings at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. She is also believed to have travelled to Pakistan twice, with one widely circulated video showing her in Lahore’s Anarkali Bazaar, accompanied by armed security. On 26 May 2025, she was placed in judicial custody for 14 days.
