Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag has been fined 25 percent of his match fee for a code of conduct breach after being caught vaping on camera during the IPL clash against Punjab Kings in Mullanpur. The incident, which occurred during the Royals’ chase on Tuesday night, sparked widespread criticism on social media and was later reported to match referee Amit Sharma by on-field umpires Tanmay Srivastava and Nitin Menon after visual evidence surfaced.

Parag admitted to the offence and accepted the sanction, which also includes one demerit point under the IPL guidelines. The act was classified as a Level 1 offence, requiring no formal hearing. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), however, has indicated that it is considering further action against Rajasthan Royals, their officials, and players to safeguard the league’s reputation. BCCI secretary Devajit Saika confirmed that discussions are ongoing but no decision has yet been taken.

The Indian government banned e-cigarettes in 2019, making their production, sale, and distribution illegal, with offenders facing up to one year’s imprisonment and/or a fine of ₹1 lakh for a first offence. IPL officials described Parag’s conduct as careless, particularly in the age of constant broadcast scrutiny and social media exposure.

This marks the second controversy involving the Royals this season, following a ₹1 lakh fine imposed on team manager Romi Bhinder earlier this month for breaching PMOA protocol by using his phone in the dugout. Rajasthan Royals, who defeated Punjab Kings in the match, are scheduled to host Delhi Capitals in Jaipur on Friday night.