Priyanka Senapati, a travel YouTuber from Puri known for her temple tours and religious content, has come under investigation following the arrest of fellow content creator Jyoti Malhotra. Jyoti was recently arrested by Haryana police on suspicion of spying for Pakistan, and authorities are now examining Priyanka's connection to her.
According to reports, Priyanka had developed a friendship with Jyoti Malhotra after meeting her through YouTube. The two were seen together during Jyoti¡¯s visit to Puri in September 2024, with Priyanka even escorting Jyoti to the Jagannath Temple. However, after Jyoti¡¯s arrest, Priyanka quickly distanced herself, writing in an Instagram post:?¡°Jyoti was just a friend of mine, and I came in contact with her through YouTube. I was unaware of anything she is accused of. I would not have been in touch with her if I knew she was spying for enemy Pakistan.¡±?She added that she¡¯s open to cooperating fully with authorities and emphasised, ¡°The Nation is above all. Jai Hind.¡±
Priyanka Senapati is a Puri-based content creator who shares travel vlogs on her YouTube channel, Prii_vlogs, where she has over 14,600 subscribers. Her content primarily focuses on exploring religious and cultural sites across India, including visits to temples in Ayodhya and Varanasi. She also has a significant following on Instagram, with over 20,700 followers.
Up until recently, Priyanka had a public-facing Instagram profile, where she regularly posted travel content and updates. However, as news of the investigation broke, she made her account private. Her YouTube channel remains visible for now.
One of the key concerns being looked into is Priyanka¡¯s recent trip to Pakistan. About three to four months ago, she visited Kartarpur via the corridor and later shared a vlog titled ¡°Odia Girl in Pakistan | Kartarpur Corridor Guide | Odia Vlog¡± on her channel, Prii_vlogs. The trip, although not uncommon for travel vloggers, is now under fresh scrutiny due to her association with Jyoti.
Puri SP Vinit Agrawal confirmed that Priyanka is being investigated ¡°from all angles,¡± especially her Kartarpur visit and communications with Jyoti.
Priyanka is currently not under arrest and remains at her family home in Puri. Her father has also been questioned by the Intelligence Bureau. Speaking to reporters, he said, ¡°I was not aware of anything. It was recently that I learned Jyoti Malhotra has been arrested on spying charges. My daughter Priyanka is a YouTuber, and she had come in contact with Jyoti, who had visited Puri in September 2024. I have no idea where Jyoti stayed. She had not visited our house.¡±
He also mentioned that Priyanka¡¯s Kartarpur trip involved documents and was done alongside others, pointing out that many YouTubers have made similar visits. He emphasized that Priyanka is a student and had no knowledge of any alleged espionage activity.
Jyoti Malhotra, also known by her online name Jyoti Rani, is a 33-year-old travel vlogger from Hisar, Haryana, who has built a massive online following with her YouTube channel ¡°Travel with JO.¡± With over 370,000 subscribers on YouTube and more than 130,000 followers on Instagram, she was known for her solo travel adventures across India and beyond. She is believed to have been in contact with a Pakistani staffer at the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi. India had expelled the Pakistani official on May 13 for alleged involvement in espionage activities.
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