A memorable night at Eden Gardens turned briefly chaotic during the IPL 2025 season opener between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), when a fan breached security to meet star batter Virat Kohli. The fan managed to reach Kohli and touch his feet before being swiftly removed by stadium security. Authorities later confirmed that the individual was arrested under Section 329 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The arrest came as a surprise to many, prompting questions about the seriousness of the charges. Section 329 of the IPC pertains to voluntarily causing grievous hurt with the intent to extort property or valuable security. The provision carries a maximum punishment of up to 10 years of imprisonment and a fine.
However, legal experts suggest that the use of Section 329 in this context may be misapplied, as there is no evidence suggesting that the fan intended to extort anything from Kohli. It is likely that the charge was applied as a placeholder, pending further investigation or revision under more suitable sections such as Section 447 (criminal trespass) or Section 352 (assault or use of criminal force otherwise than on grave provocation).
The incident occurred during a high-profile match where Virat Kohli led RCB to a dominant win, scoring an unbeaten 59 off 36 balls to chase down KKR’s 174-run target in just 16.2 overs. The night also featured special celebrations as BCCI honoured Kohli during IPL’s 18th anniversary, and he shared a light moment dancing with Shah Rukh Khan to a song from Pathaan.
Despite the breach, the match continued without disruption, and the victory marked a strong start to RCB’s 2025 campaign, thanks to powerful performances from Kohli, Phil Salt, Krunal Pandya, and Josh Hazlewood. Security has since been tightened at IPL venues to prevent similar incidents in the upcoming fixtures.
