TV
At a time when Puri-based YouTuber Priyanka Senapati is now under the scanner after Haryana-based YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra was recently arrested on the charges of spying for Pakistan, the family members of Priyanka on Sunday assured full support to the ongoing investigation by agencies as it is a sensitive issue.
Talking to reporters, Priyanka’s father Rajkishore informed that on Saturday, he received a phone call from the local police station regarding the visit of some officials for questioning his daughter as she had accompanied Jyoti during her visit to different places in Puri in the month of September 2024.
Also Read: Youtuber Jyoti Malhotra's Puri Srimandir visit footage emerges amid espionage probe
Jyoti Malhotra, aka Jyoti Rani, who ran a travel account on YouTube called 'Travel With Jo', was arrested from Hisar in Haryana on the charges of sharing Indian military information with Pakistan, police said on Saturday. She is among six people who have been arrested on these charges.
Priyanka Senapati is a student and as well as a content creator. She is said to have developed some contacts with Jyoti prior to her visit to Odisha last year.
“I was not aware of anything. It was recently that I learnt that 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.”
On reports of Priyanka’s visit to Pakistan, her father said, “Priyanka had visited Kartarpur some 3 to 4 months back. Priyanka had developed a friendship with Jyoti as a YouTuber, and it was a completely professional relationship. My daughter had visited Kartarpur to make some videos. As a friend, my daughter had accompanied Jyoti during her visit to Puri.”
Priyanka’s father said, “ My daughter had developed a friendship with Jyoti Malhotra a year back. Yesterday, I got a call from the local police station and was asked to cooperate in the investigation. I have no idea where Jyoti stayed. She had not visited our house. Some officials had come and had asked her some questions. The officials also asked some questions to me as well.”
Priyanka Had Visited Sri Lanka
“My daughter had earlier visited Sri Lanka with family. She had visited Kartarpur along with one other person, along with documents. May YouTuber have also visited Kartarpur. My daughter is a student and she was not aware about Jyoti’s involvement in spying for an enemy country. We are cooperating with investigating agencies in all aspects. My daughter is also cooperating with agencies,” Rajkishore said.
The family claimed that if Priyanka was aware of Jyoti’s ill intentions, she would not have developed contacts with her.
Earlier, a team of the Intelligence Bureau (IB), in collaboration with Puri Police, had quizzed Priyanka and tried to garner some information regarding Jyoti and the places she visited during her trip to Puri and other aspects as well.
In her clarification via a social media post, Priyanka stated that, “Jyoti was just a friend of mine and I came in contact with her through YouTube. I was unaware of anything which she is accused of. I would not have been touch with her if I knew she was spying for enemy country.”
Priyanka further wrote, “ I knew her professionally through content creation and personally shocked to hear this. If any investigation wish to cross question, I would provide full cooperation.”
