Riyan Parag escapes punishment in vaping controversy, BCCI takes action against IPL official

Rajasthan Royals skipper Riyan Parag might have just found a loophole to escape major punishments for vaping e-cigarettes in the dressing room during their match against the Punjab Kings (PBKS vs RR) at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh PCA Stadium in Tira.

As per the regulations set by the Government of India, selling or consuming e-cigarettes is considered an illegal practice, citing bad effects on health. Additionally, a dressing room in the Indian Premier League (IPL) is a non-smoking zone.

The RR captain is likely to escape punishments

It is considered that the RR captain, Riyan Parag, has violated multiple rules by using an e-cigarette inside a dressing room during a live match. It was reported that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) can take serious steps against the player.

Recent reports suggest something different. According to an ANI report, the match referee can be under fire for allowing Riyan Parag to carry such things inside the dressing room.

“The board will punish and penalise the match referee for how a player can bring a banned substance in the dressing room during a live match, no such provision in the rule book to penalise Riyan,” a source close to the Rajasthan Royals has claimed to ANI.

Breaking on Ryan Smoking 🚬 incident

Board will punish and penalise the match referee that how a player can bring a ban substance in the dressing room during a live match, no such provision in the rule book to penalise Ryan: Sources, @rajasthanroyals @IPL pic.twitter.com/JkjvcjC9Dc

— vipul kashyap (@kashyapvipul) April 30, 2026

Cricket fans went against Riyan Parag

The vaping incident in the dressing room has become one of the major issues and controversies in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Indian cricket fans on social media platforms are putting their posts, questioning the skipper’s actions during the match, which was seen by crores of people. As there are multiple cameras deployed on the ground, all of the players, even the thousands of spectators in the gallery, can be caught instantly if they are found doing something unusual.

The issue has taken on a more complicated form as the Government of India has strict laws to prohibit e-cigarettes in the country. Hefty penalty, even imprisonment is possible under the strict laws. As per the speculations, even the BCCI has the right to take strict actions against Riyan Parag to restrict him and other players in the league from doing the same in the future.

It is an administrative issue: Former umpire

On April 29, former umpire Anil Chaudhary said to the news agency that the matter is an administrative issue. He suggested that every player inside the stadium be very careful, as multiple cameras are working all around the ground.

"I think it is an administrative issue, and I do not know the legal aspects, but certainly, government rules and other regulations will be there. Sometimes these cameras can go anywhere, so all players should be very careful,” the former Indian umpire said.

“These are young lads; they do not know that sometimes they can be caught anywhere except the toilet, so boys should be careful. I think on TV, good things should be shown, and we should discuss the game rather than other things,” he added.

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