Followers, free trips, and easy visas: Influencers under scanner for Pakistan links

India Today

19-05-2025

We've seen influencers go as far as leaping off cliffs, risking their own lives in the pursuit of online attention. But could that pursuit extend to compromising national security — all for a few sponsored trips, more followers, and a spike in likes?India Today analysed the social media patterns of three influencers currently under the radar for alleged espionage linked to Pakistan. Jyoti Malhotra, Priyanka Senapati, and Devinder Singh Dhillon are among the prominent digital creators whose names have surfaced in the ongoing investigation.
advertisementA review of their YouTube channels shows sharp spikes in followers and views following trips to Pakistan. Travel influencer Jyoti, with over 3.86 lakh subscribers, has visited eight countries and travelled widely across India. Analytics from the cyber growth platform SocialBlade show only three notable spikes in her subscriber count — in April 2023, April 2024, and December 2024 — each coinciding with her documented visits to Pakistan in the preceding months.
A similar pattern is observed in the subscriber growth of Priyanka Senapati, who travelled to Pakistan in March, 2025. Her association with Jyoti—who had previously made multiple visits—may have played a role in facilitating her visa process.advertisementAlthough there is no direct evidence, Jyoti's visit to Pahalgam just months before the attack has also raised eyebrows. While she is not believed to have shared any military information with Pakistani operatives, Palak Sher Masih and Suraj Masih—both active on Instagram—were arrested on May 3 for allegedly leaking sensitive information and photographs of Army cantonment areas and air bases in Amritsar.
Influencers, under the garb of content creation, often gain access to sensitive locations with little oversight. They are able to access and film with relative ease, facing minimal scrutiny while sharing potentially revealing footage.However, this wasn't the only motive behind Pakistani intelligence operatives(PIO) engaging influencers. YouTube videos and reports suggest that Jyoti developed a close association with a Pakistani High Commission official Danish during her visit to Pakistan. A vlog on her channel from an Iftar party captures her being welcomed by Danish upon arrival and later seen leaving the event alongside him.Danish, also known as Ehsan-ur-Rahim, was declared persona non grata on May 13 over charges of espionage. In diplomatic terms, a persona non grata is a foreign diplomat whom the host country formally requests to be recalled by their home nation.advertisementPakistan appears to be engaging in a subtler form of influence operations– using influencers to amplify pro-Pakistani narratives in exchange for soft incentives like facilitated visas, sponsored trips, and algorithmic visibility. While data shows a consistent pattern of spike in follower counts post visits to Pakistan, there is no definitive evidence attributing that growth directly to coordinated state-backed amplification.Instagram creator Devinder Singh Dhillon visited the University of Punjab in Lahore in December 2024, crossing via the Wagah border. His content reflects a sustained interest in showcasing Pakistan — featuring its currency, prominent gurudwaras, Lahore Fort, local museums, and Istanbul Chowk. His most recent appearance in Pakistan, traced to just two weeks ago at Lahore Junction, preceded his eventual arrest.He reportedly shared videos of Patiala cantonment with PIOs.In addition to them, Tareef, Jaffar Husain, Nauman Illahi, Armaan, Guzala, Yameen Mohammad, and Shahzad are among the other individuals who have come under scrutiny.