BENGALURU — Indian cricketer Hardik Pandya has found himself in the middle of a legal controversy following a complaint filed at the Shivaji Nagar police station in Bengaluru. The grievance, submitted by Pune-based advocate Wajed Khan Bidkar, alleges that the star all-rounder showed disrespect toward the Indian Tricolour during the team’s exuberant celebrations after their T20 World Cup victory at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
The complaint stems from viral social media footage documenting the team’s on-field triumph. According to the written application, Pandya was seen celebrating with the national flag draped over his shoulders while running and dancing on the pitch. The core of the allegation, however, focuses on a specific moment where the cricketer was reportedly seen lying on a stage with his girlfriend while the flag remained draped over his body. Bidkar contends that this act constitutes a violation of the dignity of the national symbol under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971.
Speaking to sources, advocate Wajid Khan expressed his disappointment, stating that while the nation celebrates the sporting victory, the dignity of the flag must remain paramount. He noted that Section 2 of the 1971 Act mandates strict respect for the Tricolour, and he believes Pandya’s actions, caught in the heat of the moment, crossed a line into disrespect. Khan further explained that despite the incident occurring in Ahmedabad, he filed the complaint in Bengaluru because the national flag represents the entire country, making the location of the report valid in any jurisdiction.
Shivaji Nagar police have officially accepted the complaint and provided a copy to the advocate, though it remains to be seen if a formal First Information Report (FIR) will be registered. The Bengaluru police initially questioned the jurisdiction of the complaint, but Khan insisted that the symbolic nature of the flag allows for a broader legal reach. As of now, the cricketer has not issued an official statement regarding the allegations, and the BCCI has not commented on the matter.
