Haryana-based YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, recently arrested on charges of espionage, is under scrutiny for her visits to high-security religious sites, including the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri and the Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain. The 33-year-old travel vlogger is accused of sharing sensitive information with Pakistani operatives and remains in custody.
Puri Police are verifying allegations that Malhotra flew a drone over the Jagannath Temple during her 2024 visit—violating a strict no-fly zone enforced around the sacred premises. Authorities are probing whether the act was deliberate or connected to alleged espionage activities.
A five-member police team from Madhya Pradesh questioned Malhotra in Hisar, Haryana, about her April 2023 visit to the Mahakaleshwar temple. Ujjain Additional SP Nitesh Bhargava said no suspicious activity has been detected yet but emphasized the importance of precaution. “The temple is a sensitive zone with thousands of visitors daily. Our action was precautionary,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Odisha government announced plans to bolster temple security, considering the installation of anti-drone systems akin to those used by defence institutions. “We are mulling over the idea for enhanced safety at the Puri temple,” state Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan stated.
Malhotra was arrested on May 16 and booked under the Official Secrets Act and Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Act. Investigations revealed that she allegedly maintained contact with a Pakistani High Commission official, Danish—who was expelled from India on May 13. Their association reportedly lasted from November 2023 to March 2025.
Multiple intelligence agencies, including the NIA and IB, have interrogated Malhotra. Odisha-based travel blogger Priyanka Senapati, who accompanied Malhotra during her Odisha tour, was also questioned regarding possible links.
The investigation remains ongoing.