In a startling turn of events in Puri, Odisha, the family of YouTuber Priyanka Senapati has come under intense scrutiny following the arrest of fellow YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, who faces allegations of espionage for Pakistan. Priyanka, a 21-year-old content creator with over 14,000 subscribers on her YouTube channel “Prii_vlogs,” is being rigorously questioned by the Puri Police, Intelligence Bureau, and state forensic teams. The investigation has extended to her father, Rajkishore Senapati, and other associates, with authorities probing their financial transactions and connections to Malhotra.
Rajkishore, once a humble night snack vendor, has transformed into a prominent hotelier, owning multiple properties under the brand “Parijat.” This rapid ascent from a modest street food business to a flourishing hotel empire has raised eyebrows in the local community. Posts on X and recent news reports highlight growing suspicions about the source of this newfound wealth, especially given the family’s reported financial struggles in the past. Locals are now urging authorities to investigate the bank accounts of Priyanka and her family to uncover any irregularities tied to their sudden prosperity.
The probe intensified after revelations of Priyanka’s close association with Malhotra, whom she met through YouTube in 2023 and accompanied during a visit to Puri in September 2024. Malhotra’s activities, including her brief detention for flying a drone over the Jagannath Temple, have raised concerns about potential espionage. Priyanka’s own trip to Pakistan’s Kartarpur Corridor in early 2023, documented in a vlog titled “Odia Girl in Pakistan,” has further fueled suspicions, though her father insists it was a legal visit for content creation.
While no concrete evidence has been found against Priyanka as of May 20, 2025, the ongoing investigation continues to scrutinize her digital footprint, call records, and financial dealings, including her father’s restaurant and hotel business. Priyanka has publicly clarified that her relationship with Malhotra was purely professional, emphasizing her cooperation with authorities and shock at the spying allegations. Rajkishore has also assured full cooperation, stating, “Nation comes first.”
The dramatic rise of the Senapati family from a small-time snack shop to a multi-hotel business, coupled with Priyanka’s links to a high-profile espionage case, has left Puri abuzz with questions. As the investigation unfolds, the focus remains on whether this tale of rags-to-riches is a story of entrepreneurial success or something more sinister.
