Kerala Tourism Department under a state-run influencer collaboration program aimed at enhancing Kerala’s visibility as a digital travel destination. Between 2024 and 2025, Malhotra visited several locations including Kannur, Kozhikode, Kochi, Alappuzha, and Munnar.
Malhotra’s travel history is a significant aspect of the ongoing investigation, as she traveled to Pakistan multiple times and established contacts with Pakistani intelligence officials, including members of the Pakistan High Commission. One such official was expelled from India after the espionage allegations surfaced. The 33-year-old Haryana-based vlogger was among a group of social media influencers engaged by the Kerala tourism department between January 2024 and May 2025. Her viral video featuring a traditional Theyyam performance in Kannur garnered attention amid the probe.
Arrested on May 16 from New Aggarsain Extension, Malhotra was booked under the Official Secrets Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. While police have found no evidence that she accessed defense or military information, investigators assert that she knowingly communicated with individuals linked to Pakistani intelligence. Notably, she had contact with Ehsan-ur-Rahim (also known as Danish), a Pakistan High Commission staff member expelled from India in May 2024 for alleged espionage. Malhotra remains in judicial custody, with her next hearing scheduled for July 7.
