Recent social media posts have circulated images purporting to show Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alongside Jyoti Malhotra, a travel vlogger arrested on charges of espionage for Pakistan. However, multiple fact-checking organizations have confirmed that these images are digitally manipulated and do not depict Malhotra with Gandhi.
One widely shared image originally featured Rahul Gandhi with Aditi Singh, a former Congress MLA from Rae Bareli who joined the BJP in 2021. In the doctored version, Singh’s face has been replaced with that of Jyoti Malhotra. Another image, taken during the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Kerala in September 2022, shows Gandhi embracing a female supporter; this woman’s face was similarly swapped with Malhotra’s in the altered photo.
These manipulations have been identified through reverse image searches and AI-based detection tools, which indicate that the viral images are either computer-generated or modified.
Jyoti Malhotra, also known as Jyoti Rani, was arrested by Hisar police on May 17, 2025, for allegedly sharing sensitive information with Pakistani intelligence operatives. She is currently under investigation, with authorities examining her travel history, financial transactions, and communications.
The dissemination of these doctored images underscores the importance of verifying information before sharing it, especially when it pertains to national security and public figures.
