Popular Indian travel vlogger Paramvir Singh Beniwal, known online as “Passenger Paramvir,” was detained for over 10 hours and allegedly extorted for money by border officials while attempting to enter Ukraine from Moldova.
The creator, who has over 2.5 million subscribers on YouTube, chronicled the ordeal in a video released Sunday, claiming he and a friend were targeted due to their Indian nationality while Russian passport holders were allowed to pass freely.
The incident occurred at the Palanca border crossing between Moldova and Ukraine. Paramvir and his travel companion, Navankur, were pulled off a public bus after officials discovered common medicines in their luggage.
According to Paramvir, border guards flagged a strip of Norfloxacin (an antibiotic for stomach infection) and Paracetamol, claiming the pills required a prescription.
Despite the medicines being standard travel kit items, officials allegedly threatened the duo with deportation or heavy fines. They said, ‘Give us $100, but not cash in hand,‘” Paramvir said in the video.
To resolve the standoff and avoid delaying the entire bus, Paramvir’s friend allegedly placed a $100 bill inside an old passport and handed it to the officers.
The vlogger claimed the cash was taken, and the “illegal” medicines were returned to them, raising questions about the legitimacy of the fine.
India is Crossing the Line
While the bribe resolved the medicine issue, the ordeal continued with a gruelling interrogation regarding their stance on the Russia-Ukraine war and their financial status.
Paramvir stated that while they were detained in a corner for hours, they watched a Russian citizen, whose country is currently at war with Ukraine, cleared by security in a fraction of the time.
When Paramvir confronted an officer about the delay, asking if they were being targeted because they were Indian, the officer reportedly used a translation app to reply. The English output read: “India is crossing the line.“
It remains unclear if the officer was referring to India’s geopolitical neutrality or if it was a translation error, but Paramvir described the moment as “humiliating.”
The duo was eventually released past midnight, forcing them to enter the port city of Odessa during a strict military curfew. With no transport available, they hitchhiked in a van and walked the final stretch to their hotel in pitch darkness to avoid military patrols.
“We felt like criminals,” Paramvir said. “We came with valid visas, bookings, and respect for their country, yet we were treated with suspicion.“
Paramvir Singh Beniwal is one of India’s most prominent travel creators, known for documenting his journeys to “dangerous” or unconventional destinations, including Syria, Somaliland, and Afghanistan.
His channel, Passenger Paramvir, has amassed over 560 million views, catering to an audience fascinated by raw, unfiltered travel experiences. This incident highlights the unique risks Indian creators face when navigating global conflict zones with an Indian passport.
