Bhubaneswar: No suspicious evidence has emerged against Priyanka Senapati, a YouTuber from Puri, after three-day grilling by multiple agencies over her alleged links with Jyoti Malhotra, arrested for allegedly spying for Pakistan.
State intelligence, the Intelligence Bureau, and Puri police are jointly questioning the Puri-based content creator about her relationship with Jyoti and their joint trips, including to Jammu and Kashmir. “Priyanka’s connections with Jyoti are being thoroughly investigated to ensure no detail is overlooked. But nothing incriminating has been found so far,” a senior police officer told the media.
Though aware of Jyoti’s connections to Pakistani officials, she claimed ignorance of her spying activities.
Priyanka’s laptop, mobile phone, social media accounts, and bank transactions, as well as her father Rajkishore Senapati’s financial records, including the funding for his restaurant business, are also being examined.
Sources said the NIA may soon question her in this regard.
Meanwhile, the Puri-based content creator has made her Instagram account private and reports also suggest that she deleted 25 videos from her youtube channel on May 17. She has also unfollowed several people.
The Association & Puri Visit
According to sources, Priyanka aspired to emulate Jyoti’s success as a social media influencer. She sought to boost her following by associating with Jyoti, whose channel, Travel with Jo, has 3.87 lakh subscribers. The two met through YouTube last year and bonded during Jyoti’s visit to Puri in September 2024.
During the Puri visit, Jyoti was reportedly detained by police for allegedly flying a drone over Shree Jagannath Temple. She was later released on Priyanka’s request, a local channel reported.
Reports further indicate that the Jyoti had stayed at Jagannath Ballav Bhakta Niwas at Market Chhak in Puri on September 21-22, 2024. She had booked the room online and checked out on September 22 evening. A video of the stay has also emerged.
This has raised concern amid reports that Pakistani intelligence operatives might have been grooming Jyoti as an ‘asset’ and was reportedly in close contacts with the Pakistani official working at the High Commission expelled by Indian authorities on May 13 for allegedly indulging in espionage.
Questions are also being raised on how Priyanka could spend Rs 30,000/day for her hotel stay during a weeklong visit to Kerala with Jyoti.
‘All Allegations Being Verified’
Puri SP Vinit Agrawal told reporters that the entire matter has been taken up seriously. “The drone incident, along with financial transactions of the girl and her family members, is also being verified. We have come across nothing suspicious so far. But the investigation is continuing and we can divulge details once it is completed,” he said.
He further stated that Priyanka had visited Kartarpur Corridor for a day and the purpose behind the trip is being investigated.
The SP added that she is cooperating with the investigating agencies.
