Hardik Pandya faces complaint over lying with girlfriend while wearing national flag during T20 World Cup celebrations, may face 3-year jail

India’s T20 World Cup victory celebrations have unexpectedly triggered a legal complaint and a wave of online chatter around cricketer Hardik Pandya. As per an ANI report, a Pune-based lawyer has approached police in Bengaluru alleging disrespect to the national flag during the on-field celebrations after India’s title win at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. At the same time, fans on social media have been discussing another unusual detail, the silence of Pandya’s brother Krunal Pandya and sister-in-law Pankhuri Sharma during the celebrations.

Complaint filed against Hardik over alleged disrespect to national flag

A complaint has been submitted at the Shivajinagar Police Station in Bengaluru by Pune-based lawyer Wajed Khan Bidkar. He has sought action against Hardik Pandya, claiming the cricketer disrespected the Tricolour during the celebrations that followed India’s T20 World Cup triumph.

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According to the complaint, videos from the post-match celebrations circulated widely on social media. In one of the clips, Pandya is seen celebrating on the field with the Indian flag draped over his shoulder while running and dancing.

The complainant has alleged that at one point during the celebrations, Pandya was seen lying on the stage with his girlfriend while the national flag remained draped over his shoulder.

"You must have seen the T20 World Cup here. Hardik Pandya was dancing with his girlfriend in celebration of his victory. The national flag was tied to his back... According to Section 2 of the 1971 National Flag Act, we should respect the dignity of the national flag. However, Hardik Pandya was so lost in the celebration of his victory that he was lying with his girlfriend, wearing the national flag... I believe it is an insult to the national flag," Advocate Wajid Khan told ANI.

"I have filed a complaint with the Shivaji Nagar police station. When I went to file the complaint, they told me the incident occurred there, not here. So I told them that the national flag is a symbol of the entire nation, and we can file a complaint with the Shivaji Nagar police. They have accepted my complaint and provided me with a copy. Let's see what happens next. I have filed the complaint," Khan added.

India had defeated New Zealand by 96 runs in the final to successfully defend the T20 World Cup title. The win also created several milestones — India became the first team to win the T20 World Cup on home soil, the first to secure consecutive titles after their 2024 victory, and the first side to lift the trophy three times (2007, 2024 and 2026).

Punishment under the law for disrespecting national flag

If a cricketer like Hardik Pandya is legally found guilty of disrespecting the Indian national flag, the punishment would fall under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, which governs offences involving the national flag, anthem, and Constitution.

Here is what the law says:
1. Main punishment under the law
Under Section 2 of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, any person who burns, defaces, tramples upon, or otherwise shows disrespect to the Indian national flag in public view can face:

• Imprisonment for up to 3 years, or
• A fine, or
• Both imprisonment and a fine.

The law covers actions that bring the flag into contempt through words or actions, if done in a public place or visible to the public.

2. Repeat offences carry stricter punishment
If someone is convicted again after a previous offence under the same law, the punishment becomes stricter:

Minimum imprisonment of 1 year for the second or subsequent conviction.

3. What courts usually examine
For a conviction, courts typically examine:

• Intent to disrespect the national flag
• Whether the act happened in public or public view
• Whether the act amounts to “gross affront or indignity” to the flag

In many cases, courts also check if the act was deliberate or accidental, because intention plays a key role in proving the offence.

Fans also notice silence from brother Krunal Pandya

Even as the celebrations continued, fans spotted something unusual on social media. Krunal Pandya and his wife Pankhuri Sharma did not post congratulatory messages for Hardik after the World Cup win.

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For followers who closely track the Pandya family online, the absence stood out. In earlier tournaments and milestones, the family often shared posts and stories celebrating Hardik’s achievements.

Fans also noticed that Krunal and Pankhuri were not seen at the stadium during the T20 World Cup final. In previous years, they were frequently spotted in the stands supporting Hardik during big matches.

The digital cold war theory

Social media users went further, claiming there appears to be a sudden change in the family’s online interactions. Some pointed out that Krunal and Pankhuri have not liked Hardik’s recent posts, something that rarely happened earlier.

For a family that often celebrated festivals and personal milestones together on social media, the shift has triggered speculation among fans about a possible rift.

Mahieka Sharma: Hardik Pandya’s new lucky charm

While the family conversation stayed online, attention at the stadium turned to someone else. Model and actress Mahieka Sharma was frequently seen during the tournament and was spotted with Hardik’s son Agastya in the stands.

After India’s victory, Hardik openly acknowledged her presence in his life.

"Since Mahieka has come into my life, I have only been winning," Hardik shared in a post-match interview, hugging the trophy.

During the celebrations, the cricketer also referred to her as his “lucky charm” and even called her “Meri Missus”, which many fans interpreted as a public confirmation of their relationship.

‘Team Natasa’ vs ‘Team Mahieka’ debate

The online speculation is also linked to the aftermath of Hardik Pandya’s divorce from Natasa Stankovic in July 2024.

Some fans believe the Pandya family dynamics changed after the separation. A few posts on X suggested that Krunal Pandya and Pankhuri Sharma continue to maintain close ties with Natasa and Hardik’s son Agastya.

An X user Amar @KUNGFU_PANDYA_0 wrote, "Before Mahieka Sharma came into Hardik Pandya’s life, he used to celebrate all festivals with his brother Krunal and his sister-in-law, and they used to live together. But after Mahieka came, they started living separately. Krunal and Pankhuri didn’t even wish Hardik on his birthday. Now they don’t even like each other’s Instagram posts. It feels like Mahieka Sharma has completely changed Hardik(sic)."

Another X user, Vipin Tiwari @Vipintiwari952, posted, "Hardik Pandya has always shared a close bond with his brother Krunal Pandya and his sister-in-law. But lately, things don’t seem the same. After his divorce from Natasha Stankovic, the equation appears to have changed a bit. Krunal and his wife were seen with Natasha, while Hardik seems to be mostly with Mahieka, attending pujas and other events.

"What surprised many is that even after Hardik recently won an ICC trophy, Krunal and his wife didn’t post anything about Hardik on social media. They also weren’t seen attending the Indian team’s game, so is there everything fine between the brothers?

"The only known tension earlier came in 2024, when both Hardik and Krunal were victims of a 4-crore cheating incident involving their stepbrother Vaibhav Pandya. Apart from that, there hasn’t been any clear reason in public."

A brotherhood fans grew up watching

The debate has struck a chord with cricket fans largely because of the Pandya brothers’ journey. Both Hardik and Krunal rose from modest beginnings in Vadodara and built successful cricket careers.

For many fans, their story symbolised a close-knit family chasing the same dream. That is why even small social media signals now spark curiosity.

Whether the speculation reflects reality or simply social media overanalysis remains unclear. For now, the Pandya family has not commented publicly on the rumours surrounding them.