IPS officer’s daughter allegedly harassed during RCB-CSK match, case registered

An IPL 2025 match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Chennai Super Kings at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on May 3 has become the center of a serious legal controversy, after an IPS officer's wife alleged that their daughter was sexually harassed during the game. A case has been registered at Cubbon Park Police Station against a senior Income Tax official and another individual.

The incident allegedly occurred around 9:40 PM in the Diamond Box enclosure, a premium seating area of the stadium. According to the complaint, the officer’s daughter briefly left her seat to use the restroom, leaving her purse behind. Upon returning, she found a man had occupied her seat. When her brother asked the man to vacate the seat, he reportedly refused, leading to a verbal altercation.

The situation intensified when the woman confronted the man, who was then joined by his wife — identified as a senior IT officer — and their son. What began as an argument over seating quickly escalated, with both parties exchanging heated words. The complainant alleged that the man misbehaved with her daughter and used inappropriate language, while also threatening her son.

The IPS officer’s wife stated that the daughter was subjected to physical intimidation and indecent behavior, which was recorded by their son on his phone. Unable to manage the escalating tension, the siblings contacted their parents. The IPS officer tried reaching out to his departmental contacts for immediate help, but when no assistance came, his wife proceeded to the nearest police station to lodge a formal complaint.

Police confirmed that a case has been registered under several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including sections for sexual harassment (75(1)), intentional insult (352), criminal intimidation (351(1)), and acts meant to insult a woman’s modesty (79). Investigations are underway and officials have said they will examine video footage and eyewitness accounts from the stadium.

The incident has sparked concern over the safety of women and families at large public events like IPL matches, where even premium seating does not seem to guarantee security. This case adds to the growing discourse around behavior in stadiums and the need for stricter protocols and rapid-response mechanisms for harassment complaints.