Former Indian cricketer Laxman Sivaramakrishnan has said that players found vaping should be jailed, adding that there is no point in having laws if they are not to be implemented.
A clip showing Chahal using an e-cigarette during the team’s journey continues to go viral on social media.
E-cigarettes are banned in India, both in terms of sale and usage. Earlier, Riyan Parag, skipper of the Rajasthan Royals, was fined 25% of his match fees for vaping inside the dressing room during a game against the Punjab Kings.
Referring to the latest viral video involving Chahal, he was seen trying to conceal his vaping while seated alongside Shashank Singh during a flight. The clip surfaced online through Arshdeep Singh’s social media.
Reacting to a social media post, Sivaramakrishnan said that Chahal should be ‘behind bars’ since vaping is banned in India. He also stressed that the law of the land must be respected while criticising BCCI for fining Riyan only 25% of his match fees.
“Vape is banned in India. Should be behind bars. What is the point in having Laws and not implementing them?” Sivaramakrishnan tweeted on Friday night.
Earlier this week, BCCI issued an eight-page directive to all 10 IPL teams, instructing them to follow the tournament’s Standard Operating Procedures. BCCI also clarified that the use of vapes is prohibited inside stadium premises and team hotels during the IPL.
“Instances of vaping within dressing rooms and other restricted areas of tournament venues have been brought to BCCI’s attention. It is pertinent to note that vapes and electronic cigarettes are prohibited under applicable Indian Law,” secretary Devajit Saikia said.
