Influencer Diya Krishna of Kerala under scrutiny for alleged jewelery store scam worth Rs6.9 million, sparking debates about the ethical implications of influencer fame.

Influencer Diya Krishna of Kerala under scrutiny for alleged jewelery store scam worth Rs6.9 million, sparking debates about the ethical implications of influencer fame.

In the midst of a shocking scandal, Malayalam actress and BJP politician G. Krishna Kumar's daughter, Diya Krishna - a popular lifestyle influencer and entrepreneur - is under the spotlight.

Diya has accused four employees of her boutique, Oh By Ozy, of defrauding her of a staggering ₹6.9 million (Rs 69 lakh), a sum roughly equivalent to Dh303,600. Listing Vineetha, Divya, Radhakumar, and Adarsh as the suspects, a police complaint was filed by her father on June 3, 2025.

The employees have retaliated with a counter-complaint, accusing the family of abduction, extortion, and caste-based abuse.

At the heart of the financial scam:

Speaking to media, Krishnakumar revealed that Diya, who is currently eight months pregnant, had taken a step back from the day-to-day operations of her jewellery store. He claimed that the accused staff members allegedly diverted customer payments from July 2024 onward, replacing the store's official QR code with their personal GPay UPI codes.

When the fraud was discovered, the employees reportedly returned ₹7.9 million (Dh347,600) to the store. However, on May 31, one of the employee's husbands allegedly threatened Diya over the phone.

Diya, who had treated the accused employees as 'younger sisters', revealed in an emotional interview that a family friend raised concerns after spotting a suspicious payment request. In response, Diya posted an Instagram story, urging customers to flag any unusual transactions, resulting in over a thousand messages and screenshots pouring in, indicating money had been redirected to private accounts.

Diya's assertion: 'It's all about broken trust'

On May 29, Diya confronted the employees at her flat. The altercation supposedly remained peaceful until the conversation shifted into her father's office, due to rules regarding privacy at Diya's society.

However, the employees have presented a different account, alleging they were forcibly taken and subjected to the confiscation of their phones while being threatened with death. One of them even claimed to have been threatened by someone posing as a police officer.

Casteism and intimidation on both sides?

The former employees have levelled additional claims of casteist remarks and a toxic work environment, alleging the family fostered these conditions. In retaliation, they stated that they were forced to repay the money by pledging their gold and that for Diya, everything - even their distress - was seen as vlog content.

Diya has vehemently denied these allegations. Contradicting the employees' claims, she stated, "We didn't abduct anyone. They came voluntarily. We have CCTV and video evidence to prove it."

Police investigations ongoing

The Museum Police in Thiruvananthapuram are currently reviewing the complaints from both Diya Krishna and her staff. Both parties have submitted evidence, including video evidence, bank statements, and transaction details, to help the authorities uncover the truth. The case has garnered extensive attention, unveiling the darker side of influencer-run businesses and the internal struggles that can arise within them.

1. Despite being embroiled in a financial scam, Diya Krishna, an entrepreneur and lifestyle influencer, has been under the spotlight due to a shocking scandal involving her BJP politician father, G. Krishna Kumar.
2. The employees Diya accused of defrauding her, Vineetha, Divya, Radhakumar, and Adarsh, have retaliated with a counter-complaint, alleging abduction, extortion, and caste-based abuse by the family.
3. In the financial scam, Diya's father, Krishnakumar, stated that the accused staff members diverted customer payments by replacing the store's QR code with their personal GPay UPI codes.
4. When the fraud was discovered, the employees returned ₹7.9 million (Dh347,600) to the store, but one of the employee's husbands allegedly threatened Diya over the phone on May 31.
5. Diya, who had considered the accused employees as 'younger sisters', revealed that a family friend raised concerns after spotting a suspicious payment, leading to an investigation on social-media platforms.
6. The case has garnered extensive general-news attention, unveiling the darker side of influencer-run businesses and the internal struggles that can arise within them.
7. The Museum Police in Thiruvananthapuram are currently reviewing the complaints from both Diya Krishna and her staff, scrutinizing evidence like video evidence, bank statements, and transaction details to uncover the truth in this complex crime-and-justice case.

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