Following the arrest of YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra on charges of espionage for allegedly sharing sensitive information with Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), fellow travel vlogger Navankur Chaudhary, known as "Yatri Doctor," has found himself under intense scrutiny. Social media has been abuzz with speculation about his potential involvement, particularly due to his past visits to Pakistan and association with Malhotra.
In response to these allegations, Yatri Doctor, currently in Ireland, released a video statement addressing the claims. He vehemently denied any wrongdoing, stating that the accusations of sharing confidential information with Pakistan are "completely baseless." Chaudhary expressed his willingness to cooperate fully with any official investigation, asserting his readiness to return to India and face the consequences if found guilty by any agency, including the National Investigation Agency (NIA). "If any agency — NIA or otherwise — finds that I am guilty, I am ready to go to jail and face the consequences, and I am ready to support any kind of investigation," he declared.
Malhotra, who runs the YouTube channel "Travel with Jo," is accused of passing sensitive military information to ISI handlers during her trip to Pakistan in 2023, which she claimed was for travel content creation. Authorities allege that she maintained contact with Pakistani intelligence officers through encrypted platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram, concealing their identities with fake names. Her arrest in Hisar, Haryana, has sent shockwaves through the online creator community, prompting increased scrutiny of other influencers with connections to Pakistan.
A photograph of Malhotra with an official invitation letter at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi on March 22, 2025, accompanied by Yatri Doctor and another vlogger, Jasbir Singh Mahal, has further fueled the speculation. Yatri Doctor's visit to Pakistan in 2024, where he created vlogs praising the country and its military, has also drawn criticism.
Netizens have questioned the nature of his trip and raised concerns about his pro-Pakistan and pro-Turkey videos. Some have pointed out his use of an incorrect map of Kashmir in his videos, which he allegedly refused to correct despite repeated requests.
While Yatri Doctor has not been officially named in the investigation, the pressure is mounting for transparency and accountability from high-profile content creators with cross-border affiliations. Indian intelligence agencies have intensified their surveillance on digital platforms and influencers, and the demand for a thorough investigation into Yatri Doctor's activities is growing.
Meanwhile, other travel vloggers, such as Priyankaa Senapati and Travel Soumit Bhattacharya, have attempted to distance themselves from Malhotra, issuing statements clarifying that they were merely acquaintances and unaware of her alleged espionage activities.
The investigation into Malhotra's alleged espionage activities continues, with authorities examining her devices and bank transactions. She has been booked under Sections 3 and 5 of the Official Secrets Act and Section 153 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The case has brought the issue of online influence and potential misuse of social media platforms for espionage into sharp focus, raising concerns about national security and the need for stricter oversight of content creators with international connections.
