Fans React To Riyan Parag’s Ban Escape in Vape Case, Question Strong Family Background Influence

Riyan Parag, His uncle Ranjit Barthakur with BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia (Image source: X/@assamcric & @TrueVector33)

On Thursday, April 30, Rajasthan Royals skipper Riyan Parag was slammed with a heavy penalty from the BCCI after being caught vaping in the dressing room during the clash against the Punjab Kings, an incident that quickly spread across social media after it was caught on live broadcast. 

Following the backlash, the BCCI issued its verdict on the matter and penalised Parag for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct. The young captain has been fined 25 per cent of his match fee and also handed one demerit point for a Level 1 offence. 

Netizens disappointed with the BCCI’s ‘25% fine’ for Parag 

Many followers expressed outrage at Riyan Parag's behaviour, calling it “unprofessional” and demanding stricter penalties to set a better example.  

Moreover, after BCCI’s verdict on the matter, some fans expressed dissatisfaction with the mere fine, calling for harsher, longer-term punishment to prevent such “careless” acts from tarnishing the IPL’s image. 

Here are some fan reactions: 

KKR Karavan

@KkrKaravan

Harshit Rana was banned just for one celebration Meanwhile even after such a big incident RR Captain has been let off with only a fine by @BCCI — Riyan Parag would have got a different punishment if his jersey color had been purple.

Apr 30, 2026, 2:05 PM

Rehman Dakait

@MadhurKapoor12

That's a very lenient punishment, I guess, for such a mistake. BCCI had a great chance to set an example for all the players, staff & even owners that this act shouldn't be taken lightly They should have banned him for at least 1 game so that players would have had that fear

Anupam Kumar

@anupamkumar01

@MadhurKapoor12 25% match fee and demerit points counts for nothing for today's cricketers. Doesn't even serve the purpose, they may as well let go 25% just to vape inside the dressing room

Notably, a netizen also emphasised the influence of Riyan Parag’s substantial political family background, which led to his escape from a ban in the vaping case. 

ChaiPeCricket

@ChaiPeCric

The mystery of Riyan Parag influence and power is getting more perplexing day by day First, how did he get Rajasthan Royals captaincy with such a mediocre 8-year record? How did he move RR base from Jaipur to Guwahati (with no connection to the owners)? And now, how did he

Apr 30, 2026, 3:46 PM

In the same context, let’s explore whether the claims even stand a chance or are just made for the sake of gossip and giggles. 

A glance at Riyan Parag's family background and political connections

Born on November 10, 2001, Riyan Parag comes from a family of highly accomplished and eminent sports personalities. His father, Parag Das, is a former first-class cricketer. 

Meanwhile, his mother, Mithoo Barooah, is a national record-holder in the 50m freestyle. She has represented India in the Asian Championships and the SAF Games.

Also read: Riyan Parag Vaping Video- RR Captain To Be Jailed Mid IPL? All Legal Actions Listed

Apart from having successful parents, Riyan is the nephew of the multilingual singer and Assam's “heartthrob," Late Zubeen Garg. 

It is worth noting that Riyan’s father, Parag Das, is widely reported to be the brother of Ranjit Barthakur, making Riyan Parag the nephew of the RR executive chairman. This connection has frequently led to speculation regarding favouritism or nepotism behind Riyan Parag's consistent backing by the Royals since 2019.

As a prominent Assamese businessman, Barthakur is reportedly promoting local talent from the Northeast, with Riyan as a primary focus. 

Did Parag’s strong background help him curtail BCCI punishment over the vape incident? 

Based on the official disciplinary proceedings that concluded today, there is no evidence that Riyan Parag’s personal background curtailed his punishment. In fact, the BCCI has taken formal action despite initial rumours that he might escape sanctions. 

Moreover, while Riyan Parag has so far escaped the ban, the BCCI condition emphasises that any further repetition of the act, by Parag or any other player, will not be treated merely as a disciplinary violation but could prompt a career-ending suspension.

Riyan Parag Search history: Other controversy including the RR captain

It is worth noting that this is not the first instance where Rajasthan Royals' Riyan Parag has been surrounded by controversy. 

Young Parag's YouTube search history went viral in 2024–2025 after he accidentally displayed it during a live gaming stream. The search history, which included queries for Bollywood actresses Ananya Panday and Sara Ali Khan, was, according to Parag, the result of a setup by a member of his Discord team, not his own searches.

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