YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra’s Father Changes Statement

Father Claims He Was Misled About Daughter’s Trips

NEW DELHI: Harish Malhotra, father of YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, has changed his earlier statement. He now says he did not know about his daughter’s trips to Pakistan. He claims Jyoti told him she was going to Delhi.

Key Points:

• Jyoti Malhotra was arrested under the Official Secrets Act.
• Police found suspicious material on her phone and laptop.
• Her father says he was misled about her trips.

Harish Malhotra told ANI, “I didn’t know. She told me she was going to Delhi. She never told me anything. None of her friends visited our home. Yesterday, the police brought her here. She took her clothes and left. She did not say anything to me. I don’t know what to say. She used to make videos at home. I never said that she visited Pakistan. She used to tell me that she was going to Delhi. I have no demands. Whatever is going to happen, will happen.”

Investigation Details:

• Jyoti visited the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi in 2023.
• She met a man named Ahsan-ur-Rahim, also known as Danish.
• She traveled to Pakistan twice and met individuals linked to Pakistani security.

Her father claims her trips were for YouTube work. “Before lockdown, she used to work in Delhi. I haven’t seen her videos as I own a small phone. I am upset and unwell for the last 3 days,” he said.

Earlier Statements:

Harish had earlier told ANI that his daughter made videos in Pakistan. “She made YouTube videos. She used to visit Pakistan and other places. If she has some friends there, can’t she call them?” he said.

Police Findings:

• Jyoti remained in touch with her handler during military tensions.
• She was part of a network of influencers shaping pro-Pakistan narratives.
• She had contact with other YouTubers and Pakistani Information Officers.

Jyoti, with 3.77 lakh YouTube subscribers and 1.33 lakh Instagram followers, was remanded to police custody for five days.