Thiruvananthapuram – A high-profile financial fraud case involving Malayalam actor and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader G. Krishnakumar and his daughter, social media influencer Diya Krishna, has taken a contentious turn in Kerala, sparking a heated debate over the use of caste and gender as "victim cards" to evade accountability.

When Krishnakumar and Diya accused three female employees of their jewellery shop, Oh by Ozy, of orchestrating a ₹69 lakh fraud through manipulated QR code payments, the employees retaliated with grave counter-allegations of caste-based discrimination, abduction, and ill-treatment against the actor’s family.

These conflicting claims have ignited public discourse on whether sensitive social issues are being weaponized to deflect from criminal accountability, highlighting tensions around caste, gender, and workplace ethics in Kerala.

The Financial Fraud Allegations

The controversy erupted when Krishnakumar and Diya filed a complaint with the Museum Police in Thiruvananthapuram, alleging that three female employees of Oh by Ozy had siphoned off approximately ₹69 lakh by diverting customer payments to their personal Google Pay accounts. The fraud, which reportedly began in July 2024, went unnoticed until Diya, who is eight months pregnant and had reduced her involvement in the boutique’s operations, detected discrepancies in the financial records.

Krishnakumar presented CCTV footage and documents as evidence, including a video where one employee allegedly admits to splitting the misappropriated funds, stating, “If we got ₹1,500, all three of us would share ₹500 each.” The family claims the employees used the funds to purchase gold from local jewellers. The police registered a case against the three women under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, for cheating, misuse of electronic means, and criminal intimidation. A separate case was filed against the husband of one employee for allegedly threatening Diya over the phone on May 31.

Counter-Allegations and the Caste Debate

In a dramatic escalation, the three employees filed a counter-complaint, accusing Krishnakumar and Diya of kidnapping, extortion, and caste-based harassment. They claim they were forcibly taken to another location, threatened with fabricated theft charges, coerced into paying ₹8 lakh, and recorded without consent. The employees further allege that Diya insulted them based on their caste, prompting the police to register a case against Krishnakumar and Diya for abduction and extortion.

The employees told the media that they have been working with ‘Oh by Ozy’ for one year and that the money they have is given by Diya. “Customers send money via online payment, and we return the money to Diya as cash. We might receive around Rs 30 lakh. We returned the money to Diya on a weekly basis. So, we don’t have any evidence for that as it is given as cash,” one of the employees said. They also alleged that the issue occurred on May 29, and they resigned from her office a day later. The employees also accused Diya's husband Ashwin of indecent behavior as they said, he used to call them at odd hours.

These caste-based accusations have fueled a broader public debate about whether such sensitive social issues are being strategically used as a "trump card" to evade punishment for the alleged fraud. Social media platforms like X have amplified this discourse, with users arguing that the employees’ counter-complaint is a “deflection tactic,” while others question the validity of the caste claims in light of the financial evidence.

Diya and Krishnakumar’s Defense Against Discrimination and Abduction Allegations

Diya Krishna vehemently denied the caste-based allegations, emphasizing her family’s diverse background. “My family comprises people from every caste,” she stated. “My father is a Nair, my mother is an Ezhava, my husband is a Brahmin. Even I don’t know which caste I or my baby belong to. I treated these employees like my sisters—they participated in my baby shower and other family functions. If I had discriminated against them, would they have been part of these celebrations?”

She also denied the abduction charges saying that they only travelled from her flat to her father’s office along with her sister Ahana, and mother. “Once we approached them with this issue, they admitted to the crime and promised to give the money back. Since we were talking in the premises of our flat, the society's' president asked us to move to some other place and we decided to go to my father’s office. Two of the employees travelled with my sister and one traveled with my mother. Their husbands followed us with their bikes” Diya added.  

Krishnakumar, who contested elections from one of the Thiruvananthapuram State assembly constituencies, an area dominated by fishing communities, also rejected the accusations. “Even after losing the elections, I have been pursuing their housing and other issues, unlike most candidates who don’t return to care for voters,” he said. “These accusations are baseless and an attempt to deflect from the fraud they committed.”

The case gained traction on June 7, when the Museum Police registered cases against Krishna Kumar and Diya. Krishnakumar’s evidence includes CCTV footage allegedly showing an employee admitting to the fraud, though she claims she cannot recall the total amount misappropriated. He stated that the employees initially returned ₹8 lakh and promised to repay the rest, requesting no complaint be filed, but later reneged and threatened Diya, leading to the formal complaint on May 30 or 31. Diya, in an emotional statement, expressed her betrayal: “I had complete faith in them.” The family’s supporters argue that the counter-allegations are an attempt to exploit Kerala’s sensitivity to caste and gender issues, with some calling for an Enforcement Directorate probe into the financial misconduct.

The Museum Police, under Sub Inspector Vipin, are investigating both sets of allegations, navigating a complex web of financial records, CCTV footage, and witness testimonies. The caste accusations carry significant weight, given recent cases in Kerala, such as the May 2025 custodial harassment of Bindu R from the SC Pulayar community. These incidents amplify the sensitivity of caste-based claims, making the police’s task of verifying the allegations particularly delicate. The charges against the employees involve serious financial crimes, while the accusations against Krishnakumar’s family include caste harassment, abduction and extortion, underscoring the high stakes of the legal battle.

The case has raised questions about workplace trust, the vulnerabilities of small businesses, and the potential misuse of caste and gender allegations to deflect accountability. Diya’s prominence as an influencer and Krishnakumar’s status as an actor-politician have intensified public interest, making this a polarizing issue.