New Delhi: Rajasthan Royals Captain Ryan Prag has landed himself in big trouble after allegedly using a vape-like device in the dressing room during Rajasthan Royals’ match against Punjab Kings at the Milanpore Cricket Stadium. Parag’s vaping scene quickly went viral, taking social media by storm, with many questioning the discipline of the youth as well as the legality of such devices under Indian law.Now, a women’s group on Thursday called for an investigation into the visuals showing Parag using a vape-like device during an IPL match, questioning the use of the product, and demanding a thorough investigation into the incident. Mothers Against Vaping, a group of mothers advocating against the promotion of new-age nicotine devices such as vapes and e-cigarettes, expressed concern.Parag’s incident took place on April 28 during a match between Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings when a camera captured him using a vape-like device while sitting in the dressing room during the live match.
Citing the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act 2019, the group said electronic cigarettes are prohibited in India, including their production, manufacture, import, export, transportation, sale, distribution, storage and advertisement.He also dismissed claims in some reports that indoor vaping falls into a “gray zone,” calling such claims “misinformation.”“The Union Ministry of Health 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 violation can be punishable with imprisonment of up to six months or a fine of up to Rs 50,000 or both, while violation of the broader prohibition is punishable with a fine of up to one year or Rs one lakh. Both, with higher penalties for repeat offences,” the group said in its statement.“In India, the law should be above all else. Be it a celebrity or an ordinary citizen, the same rules should 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 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.“We are all seeing an unmistakable trend: multinational tobacco companies are eager to keep vapes in the public discourse despite the ban and normalize these devices in India. In this context, it is fair to ask whether Ryan Prag was acting entirely on his own or whether the controversy was intentional or otherwise,” as we read as a subpoena to the investigation.The collective added that if Parag has no ill intention, he should clarify his position and cooperate with any enquiry. “He should voluntarily submit to due process. No celebrity can claim a different standard than that applied to ordinary citizens,” he said.The group added that Indian cricket cannot afford behavior that “normalises banned products in front of young viewers”.“The board must establish the facts, enforce accountability, and send an unequivocal message that the law and the health of India’s children come first,” she said.The collective reiterated that vaping is not a harmless lifestyle choice, warning that such products can act as a gateway device for teenagers, necessitating stricter enforcement and responsible public behavior.“Our children don’t just look up to celebrities, they imitate them. So this issue should be taken seriously, not casually dismissed as a passing fad,” the group said.
