FACT CHECK: Truth about viral photo showing Rahul Gandhi with Jyoti Malhotra

A photograph where the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, posing with tainted YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra has gone viral online. Jyoti was arrested for allegedly spying for Pakistan.

The image was shared by several X handles with captions slamming the Congress MP from Rae Bareli for posing with the alleged "spy vlogger".

However, a reverse image search brings up the original photo published from 2017, showing former Congress leader Aditi Singh wearing the same sari and standing next to Rahul. Everything else in the image is the same, including the person in the background. 

The original image was shared by Aditi herself in 2017. Aditi, who was a former Congress lawmaker from Rae Bareli, joined the BJP in 2021. She is currently the BJP MLA from Rae Bareli Sadar.

The photo had appeared on publications like The Times of India on May 7, 2018. Back then reports claimed that Rahul Gandhi and Aditi Singh are set to tie the knot. However, the rumours were later debunked and Aditi revealed that Rahul is like a brother to her.

Another photo of Rahul from the Bharat Jodo Yatra was also morphed with a woman's faced replaced with vlogger Jyoti. The original photo was shared by Rahul on September 18, 2018, with the caption: “These are not just photos; they represent emotions — of every citizen of the country — their hope, their unity, their strength, and their love.”

An X user, Atul Kushwaha, took to X, posting, “Jyoti Malhotra from Haryana, caught spying for Pakistan, seen with Rahul Gandhi! What a strange coincidence that every anti-national is seen with Rahul Gandhi! Is Rahul Gandhi the mastermind behind the unrest in the country". The user claims he is a national social media member of the BJP OBC Morcha.

BJP leader Dr Ajay Alok also shared the morphed images, asking, “How is it that every traitor or accused in anti-national activities is found in a photo with Shri @RahulGandhi? What is this relationship called? By the way, this is Madam Jyoti Malhotra — do you know who she is?”

Jyoti, 33, was allegedly in touch with Pakistani YouTubers like Zeeshan Hussain, with who she collaborated to paint a positive image of Pakistan through her channel Travel with JO. Zeeshan even goes on to introduce Jyoti as an ambassador of Pakistan to his viewers.

On her YouTube bio, Jyoti describes herself as a 'nomadic Leo girl wanderer', 'Haryanvi+Punjabi' and 'purane khyalo ki modern ladki' (a modern girl with a traditional outlook).

A Hisar court on Thursday extended Jyoti's police custody by four days. Police said the ISI was developing her as an asset and are looking into her visits to Pakistan, China and Bangladesh. Since November 2023, the woman was in touch with  Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, a staffer at the Pakistani High Commission, who was expelled by India recently. She allegedly contacted Danish even during the time of Operation Sindoor from May 7 to 10.

India