Riyan Parag (Image credit: X) NEW DELHI: Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag has landed himself in big trouble after he allegedly used a vape-like device in the dressing room during the Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings match at the Mullanpur Cricket Stadium. Parag’s vaping visual quickly went viral and created a stir on social media, with many questioning the discipline of the youth as well as the legality of such devices under Indian law.Now, a group of women on Thursday demanded an investigation into the visuals that allegedly show Parag using a vape-like device during an IPL match, questioning the use of the product and asking for a thorough investigation into the incident. Mothers Against Vaping, a group of mothers who advocate against the promotion of new nicotine devices such as vapes and e-cigarettes, have raised concerns.Parag’s incident took place on April 28 during a match between Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings when he was caught on camera using a vape-like device while sitting in the dressing room during a live match.
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Kumar Sangakkara on RR’s win over Punjab KingsCiting the provisions of the E-Cigarette Prohibition Act, 2019, the group said e-cigarettes are banned in India, including their manufacture, manufacture, import, export, transportation, sale, distribution, storage and advertisement.It also rejected claims in some reports that indoor vaping falls into a “grey area”, calling the claims “misinformation”.“The Union Health Ministry has also made it clear that possession of e-cigarettes in any form or quantity is a violation of the law. The law clearly states that a violation can attract a jail term of up to six months or a fine of up to Rs 50,000, or both, while violating the broader ban can attract a jail term of up to one year or a jail term of up to one year or a fine of up to Rs 100,000 crowns,” the group said in its statement.“In India, the law must come first. Whether one is a celebrity or an ordinary citizen, the same rules must apply,” the group’s spokesperson said, adding that public figures should not be allowed to mock a product category that India has already banned in the interest of public health.The group said having a vape-like device around a highly visible cricketer on national television could send the wrong message to millions of young viewers.“We all see an unmistakable trend: multinational tobacco companies are desperately trying to keep vapes in the public conversation and normalize these devices in India despite the ban. In this context, it is legitimate to ask whether Riyan Parag acted entirely on his own, or whether this controversy served, intentionally or otherwise, as an advertisement for banned substances. We call for an investigation,” the statement said.The collective added that if Parag had no ill intent, he should clarify his position and cooperate with any investigation. “He should voluntarily submit to due process. No celebrity can claim a different standard than ordinary citizens,” the statement said.The group went on to say that Indian cricket cannot afford behavior that “normalises a banned product in front of young viewers”.“The committee must establish the facts, enforce accountability and send an unmistakable message that the law and the health of India’s children come first,” it said.The collective reiterated that vaping is not a harmless lifestyle choice and warned that such products could act as entry devices for minors, requiring strict enforcement and responsible public behaviour.“Our kids don’t just watch celebrities, they copy them. That’s why this matter needs to be taken seriously, not casually dismissed as a momentary lapse,” the group said.
