New Delhi: Investigating agencies probing YouTuber and social media influencer Jyoti Malhotra—arrested on charges of allegedly spying for Pakistan—have revealed that she visited Mumbai three times in 2024. During these visits, Malhotra is said to have captured detailed photographs and videos of key infrastructure, including major railway stations, roads, crowded areas, and religious shrines, using her mobile phone and other electronic devices.
According to the agencies, she is suspected of gathering sensitive information between July and September 2024. Her first visit to Mumbai reportedly took place in July, when she travelled by a luxury bus and stayed in the city for several days. Investigators uncovered these details through the forensic analysis of her electronic gadgets.
Digital forensic reports further indicate that Malhotra meticulously documented her trips to Mumbai. These detailed records, authorities suspect, may have been shared with external sources. The data retrieved from her devices now forms the backbone of the case.
Of particular concern to investigators is the period during Ganesh Utsav, when large public gatherings are held across Mumbai. Malhotra is said to have visited prominent Ganesh pandals such as Lalbaugcha Raja and Ganesh Galli, where she allegedly recorded footage of entry and exit points, crowd movements, and other minute details that could compromise public safety and security.
Investigations are ongoing to determine whether this information was transmitted to any third parties or non-state actors.
Although Malhotra has not yet been formally charged with espionage, officials confirmed that she is being thoroughly interrogated. Her digital footprint—including her YouTube channel activity and social media interactions—is under intense scrutiny. Investigators are particularly examining the possibility that individuals linked to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) may have accessed the information she gathered.
A senior intelligence official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated: “We’re looking at the larger picture. If content was being created under the guise of social media influence but actually served another purpose, it becomes a national security concern.”
