A women’s group on Thursday demanded an investigation into visuals allegedly showing cricketer Riyan Parag using a vape-like device during an IPL match, questioning whether the incident was part of an attempt to normalize banned products. Mothers Against Vaping, a group of mothers campaigning against the promotion of new nicotine devices such as vapes and e-cigarettes, sought a thorough investigation into the incident.
The incident took place on April 28 during a match between Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings. A video taken during the live broadcast appeared to show the 24-year-old vaping inside the locker room. While BCCI fined Parag 25% of his match fee and also accumulated one demerit point for breaching Level 1 of the IPL Code of Conduct.
Citing 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 also referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks at the time of the ban in 2019, when he warned against promoting e-cigarettes as a fad, describing them as “a new form of intoxication”. It said the presence of a vape-like device around a highly visible cricketer on national television could send the wrong message to millions of young viewers.
The group called for an investigation into whether this was a “deliberate act in violation of the law, a reckless error or a calculated attempt to promote a banned product.” While the women’s group praised the BCCI for taking cognizance of the issue, it urged the cricket board to adopt a zero-tolerance approach and ensure accountability.
“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.
Reiterating that vaping is not a harmless lifestyle choice, the collective warned that such products could act as gateway devices for teenagers and that strong enforcement and responsible public behavior is necessary. “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.
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Published on:
30 Apr 2026 15:14 IST
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