"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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UP: Govt hospital staff booked for sexually assaulting woman in pretext of ultrasound test
Gorakhpur (PTI): A hospital employee was booked for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman in the pretext of an ultrasound test here in the district women's hospital, police said on Saturday.
According to the complaint, the woman, a resident of the Gulriha area, visited the district women's hospital on Thursday morning for an ultrasound test.
She was directed to a room, where Abhimanyu Gupta was conducting ultrasounds. When her turn came, the accused allegedly stared at her and told her to remove all her clothes, claiming it was necessary for the test and that a massage would also be required, she said.
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The woman alleged that once she complied, the accused began making obscene advances and tried to force himself on her. When she screamed, he allegedly gagged her, abused her and threatened to kill her before pushing her out of the room.
She said her complaints within the hospital went unheard, forcing her to approach the police.
Taking cognisance of the complaint, the hospital administration constituted a three-member inquiry committee, officials said.
Senior consultant (paediatrics) Dr Jay Kumar said, "The woman has levelled serious allegations against a staff member. Senior officials have been informed, and a departmental inquiry is underway. Strict action will be taken if the charges are proved."
Kotwali Station House Officer Chatrapal Singh said a case has been registered, and efforts are on to nab the accused.
