"RCB won, but we lost": Women allege harassment during victory celebrations
Bengaluru: While Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) clinched their maiden IPL title on the night of June 3rd, celebrations across the city took a dark turn for many women. Amidst the celebrations of flag-waving and cheering, multiple reports emerged alleging that men, many drunk heavily, behaved inappropriately and made women feel unsafe during the public celebrations.
A college student, Sakshi, shared her experience in an Instagram video. “I’m not here to take away from RCB’s historic win, I was genuinely thrilled. But while we were out celebrating, things happened that can’t be ignored. I’m not saying every man behaved badly, but some did. And that’s enough to talk about,” she wrote in the post.
In the video, Sakshi recounts venturing out with her neighbour to experience the celebrations but soon facing unwanted advances. “It started off amazing, fireworks, flags, screaming fans. But then some guys got too close, too loud, and tried to be touchy. I could feel the alcohol, the aggression, the entitlement,” she said.
She described how one man touched a girl sitting on a scooter, evoking a reaction of heartbreak and disgust. “She turned around with such a frowned expression, not even anger, just heartbreak and disgust. It was like she knew this would happen. Every woman knows this feeling,” Sakshi added.
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She also questioned, “Why can’t women enjoy public celebrations without someone ruining it for them? Being drunk is not an excuse to forget basic decency.”
She criticised how celebrations are often hijacked by men using the moment as an excuse to harass women. “This happens during concerts, on MG Road, New Year’s Eve, Christmas... every time joy fills the streets, women are forced to be on alert,” she said.
“RCB won that night, but many women lost their comfort, joy, safety, and the right to just be,” she added.
She emphasised that, “This isn’t about blaming all men or ruining the vibe. It’s about acknowledging that on even the happiest nights, some of us carry discomfort, fear, and anxiety. If you truly care about the spirit of celebration, ensure everyone feels safe being part of it. Celebrate with awareness.”
Speaking to Vartha Bharathi, Sakshi said 70-80% of men near Nagasandra were drunk. “Police came later but did nothing. We returned soon after men tried to come too close. One fell while approaching us. Another stopped his vehicle mid-road, gave a high-five, and left, it was clearly an attempt to misbehave,” she said.
She also pointed out that, “Some people use the excuse of celebration to justify their actions, saying we’re taking it the wrong way.”
When asked if she reported the incident to the police, Sakshi said she didn’t believe the police would take it seriously. “The government should’ve anticipated this and deployed more police. There was only one patrol car. Even otherwise, patrolling is rare, they mostly sit inside the car.”
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She also highlighted that students, especially women from a private university near Nagasandra, face regular incidents of eve-teasing and harassment that go unreported. She said, “Mindsets must change. People are narrow-minded and fail to understand perspectives.”
Another college student, Kalpita, also shared her experience. “People were very drunk. Near the 8th Mile, they threw cake, stopped buses, and danced. One guy hit my forehead while trying to high-five me. Two or three others did the same. The police were just standing and watching.”
Kalpita, who also went to M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday for the victory celebrations, described another disturbing incident. She stated, “One man put his hand around my neck from behind. My male friend pulled him away. If he hadn’t been with me, something worse could have happened. Most people there were drunk, I could smell it.”
Other witnesses who went to the stadium shared similar experiences.
On social media, several users expressed these concerns. An X (formerly Twitter) user, @ChiragGowda03, posted, “A drunk man was found harassing many women who came to witness the #RCBVictoryParade near Chinnaswamy Stadium. @BlrCityPolice, please look into this.” The video shows the man shouting “RCB” and asking a woman to raise a flag.
A drunk man was found harassing many women who came to witness the #RCBVictoryParade near Chinnaswamy stadium yesterday. @BlrCityPolice please look into this and take action against him. pic.twitter.com/3mksBBEaoF
— Chirag Gowda (@ChiragGowda03) June 5, 2025
Gowda also alleged that the man in the video was the state president of the Puneeth Rajkumar Fans Association.
Another viral video showed a man stating that his friend’s relative was molested at the stadium, “Her clothes were torn. It is shocking to hear this.”
This is a shocking and horrible revelation made by an RCB fan who was present at Chinnaswamy.
— S (@Surajkumar75249) June 5, 2025
Some boys have molested girls and teared their clothes and touched them inappropriately. By using situation, there were attempts to r#pe 😑 pic.twitter.com/TQT8meKjXX
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VHP slams Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge for 'money laundering' comment on RSS
Nagpur (PTI): The Vishva Hindu Parishad on Monday slammed Karnataka Congress minister Priyank Kharge for linking the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh to money laundering and asserted such statements were part of a strategy to insult patriotic organisations and defame patriots.
Kharge, while speaking at an event in Bengaluru on Sunday, cited the RSS' "network of more than 2,500 organisations, they are from America, England" to allege "these people are into money laundering".
Addressing a press conference here, VHP national organisational secretary Milind Parande said such statements will reduce the acceptance in society of those making them.
"They are trying to increase their credibility and trying to indulge in appeasement (with such remarks), both of which will not succeed. There are many forces and persons in India who have a problem with the awakening of Hindutva. They are coming up with such nonsense. Using such words and insulting patriotic organisations shows their intellectual bankruptcy," he said.
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"It will reduce their acceptance in society. What he (Kharge) said is absolutely false and even they know it. But they do it as a strategy to defame patriots. The people of Karnataka must think whether such people should be brought back to power. Hence, the VHP always asserts those who believe in the interests of Hindus must be in power at the Centre and in the states," Parande added.
Asked about the BNP winning polls in Bangladesh and whether it will improve the conditions of the Hindus there, Parande said it is expected that the community is protected irrespective of who is in power. So far, people there have been incapable of protecting Hindus, he said in reference to attacks on the community since the Sheikh Hasina government fell following an uprising in August 2024.
Asserting that most of the violence has been sponsored by political parties, Parande said, "The Hindu community is in a very dangerous situation in Bangladesh."
He also refused to comment on the face-off between the Uttar Pradesh government and Swami Avimukteshwaranand during Magh Mela festivities in Prayagraj. A controversy erupted on Mauni Amavasya morning at the Sangam Nose when police, citing heavy crowd pressure, allegedly stopped the seer from proceeding to the Sangam in a palanquin along with a large number of supporters.
The VHP as a practice does not give a statement on disputes between saints as it would not be appropriate, Parande said.
Without taking the name of Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal, the VHP leader said it was surprising anyone from the state can make such a remark about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The Congress leader has courted controversy by equating 18th Mysuru ruler Tipu Sultan with the founder of the Maratha Empire.
On some persons sprinkling cow urine to purify a temple in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar following the visit of Muslim Shiv Sena MLA Abdul Sattar in Sillod on Mahashivratri on Sunday, Parande said places of worship must be visited by those who have faith.
Without genuine sentiment, it becomes a mere political stunt, he said.
"Religion should never be exploited for political gain, as that insults faith," Parande said while not commenting on the 'purification' episode linked to the incident.
