Odisha YouTuber Priyanka Senapati under IB scanner in Jyoti Malhotra spy case

Odisha-based YouTuber Priyanka Senapati has courted trouble for accompanying Jyoti Malhotra to Jagannath temple in Puri in September last year

Updated on: May 18, 2025, 20:05:00 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

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Bhubaneswar: A day after Haryana-based YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra was arrested on charges of spying for Pakistan, her YouTuber friend from Odisha, Priyanka Senapati has courted trouble for accompanying Malhotra to Jagannath temple in Puri in September last year.

Priyanka Senapati, who also visited Kartarpur in Pakistan 3 to 4 months ago, had developed a friendship with Jyoti. Puri superintendent of police (SP) Vinit Agrawal said Priyanka is being investigated from all angles and the agencies are scrutinising her relationship with Jyoti and her travel to Kartarpur corridor.

“We are in touch with IB (Intelligence Bureau), the state’s intelligence agency, and the Haryana Police. After completion of investigation, we will share information with media,” the SP said.

“Jyoti had travelled to Puri last year. She reportedly stayed in the town for a couple of days. The verification into the fact is underway. The Haryana Police is investigating the Pakistani espionage matter. We will definitely help them if they require support from the Odisha Police in the investigation,” said Agrawal over suspected involvement of Priyanka in the espionage case.

On possible arrest of Priyanka in the case, he said, “Everything is being verified. She is also being examined by our police team. She is presently at her residence in Puri. If arrest is required, we will do that.”

“I was not aware of anything. It was recently that I learnt 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,” said Priyanka’s father Rajkishore.

“She had visited Kartarpur along with one other person, along with documents. Many YouTubers have also visited Kartarpur. My daughter is a student, and she was not aware of Jyoti’s involvement in spying for an enemy country.”

In her clarification via a social media post, Priyanka said : “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 in touch with her, had I known that she was spying for an enemy country.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More

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