‘This incident is a lesson for us and players’: MP minister's controversial comment on Australian women cricketers’ molestation case

Madhya Pradesh minister Kailash Vijayvargiya has landed in a soup after his controversial comments on the shameful incident of two Australian women cricketers, who were allegedly stalked and molested in Indore last week. The Australian women’s cricket team was in Madhya Pradesh city for the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 matches.

The unfortunate incident took place on Thursday when the players stepped out from their hotel for a nearby café. During their short walk, two players from the team were harassed by bike-borne Aqeel Khan, who also touched one of the players “inappropriately” before fleeing from the spot.

The investigation into the matter began after the players sent a SOS notification to their security team, leading to the arrest of Aqeel, a habitual offender, who was seen heavily bandaged and limping at a police station in Indore after his arrest.

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Reacting to the incident, Vijayvargiya, who is the state’s Urban Development and Housing Minister, created controversy by stating that it would serve as a lesson for the players.

“Whenever a player goes out, they should inform the local administration or security, just as we do. There’s a huge craze for cricket here, and players often underestimate their fame. This incident is a lesson for everyone — for us and for the players too,” he said on Sunday.

Congress leader Arun Yadav has hit out at the seasoned politician for blaming the players and trying to divert attention when the unfortunate episode has impacted the image of Madhya Pradesh and the country.

“This incident has already tarnished the image of Madhya Pradesh and the country at the international level; it has left a deep stain,” he said.

Clarifying his comments, Vijayvargiya told the Indian Express that he was trying to point out the mistake the players made by not informing the security team about their plans in advance.

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“It’s a shameful incident, and strict action has been taken. All legal provisions have been invoked, and the investigation is underway. The players’ security officers were not informed before they went out, and we’ve learned lessons from this to prevent such incidents in the future.”