A Viral Trend Gone Wrong
A viral Instagram trend turned into an expensive legal lesson for a man in Gwalior. Hoping to gain social media fame, a young woman spent hours covering her boyfriend’s car in thousands of lipstick kiss marks. But instead of just getting likes and shares, the couple attracted the attention of the local traffic police.
The stunt ended with the car being seized, the owner being forced to wipe off every single lipstick mark by hand, and a hefty ₹5,500 challan. While the internet found the incident amusing, the police took it very seriously.
So, how does putting lipstick on your own car break the law? The answer lies in India’s traffic and public safety rules. Let us break down the facts of the case and understand exactly what the law says about viral stunts on public roads.
The 3,400-Kiss Spectacle
According to reports, the car owner, Aditya Sikarwar, let his girlfriend decorate his vehicle as part of a “foreign trend” they saw online. She spent about three and a half hours meticulously applying 3,400 lipstick kiss marks all over the car’s body.
Once the masterpiece was complete, they took the car out for a spin in Gwalior’s busy City Centre area. Naturally, a car covered in red kisses drew massive attention. They recorded the drive, posted the video on Instagram, and waited for it to go viral. Their plan worked perfectly—the video exploded online.
However, the Gwalior Traffic Police also have Instagram accounts. After spotting the viral video, Inspector Abhishek Raghuvanshi and his team launched an initiative called ‘Operation Eagle’ to track down the vehicle.
The Police Step In
The police quickly located the car, brought the owner to the local police station, and seized the vehicle. They issued a challan of ₹5,500 under the Motor Vehicles Act.
The official reasons given for the fine were “modifying the vehicle” and performing “dangerous car stunts” on city roads. To add a bit of practical punishment to the legal fine, the police handed Sikarwar a cloth and made him wipe away all 3,400 lipstick marks right there at the station.
Sikarwar later told the media that he had no idea the stunt was illegal. He paid the fine, cleaned his car, and warned others never to do anything that violates the law. But this raises an important question: what exactly makes this illegal?
What The Law Says: The Motor Vehicles Act
The police relied on the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, which is the primary law governing road transport in India. Here is how a lipstick-covered car violates the rules.
1. Illegal Modifications (Section 52)
The police cited “vehicle modification” as a reason for the fine. Under Section 52 of the Motor Vehicles Act, no owner can alter a motor vehicle so that its details differ from what is printed on the original registration certificate (RC).
Usually, this law is used against people who change their car’s color without permission, install loud aftermarket exhausts, or add illegal tinted windows. While lipstick is temporary, drastically changing the outward appearance of a vehicle to the point where it becomes a public distraction can be interpreted by traffic authorities as an unauthorized alteration of the vehicle’s registered appearance.
2. Dangerous Driving and Stunts (Section 184)
The police also noted that the driver was performing “dangerous stunts.” Section 184 of the Motor Vehicles Act deals with driving dangerously. It states that anyone who drives a vehicle in a manner that is dangerous to the public—considering the nature, condition, and use of the place—can be punished.
Even if you are driving at a normal speed, driving a highly distracting vehicle just to record a social media video takes your focus off the road. Furthermore, it distracts other drivers, pedestrians, and riders, which can easily lead to fatal accidents. Creating a spectacle on a public road for an Instagram Reel clearly falls under the umbrella of endangering public safety.
What The Law Says: Public Nuisance
Beyond traffic laws, viral stunts on public roads often touch upon criminal laws regarding public order. Under the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, which replaced the Indian Penal Code (IPC), there are strict rules against causing a nuisance.
Section 270 of the BNS (formerly Section 268 of the IPC) defines “Public Nuisance.” A person is guilty of a public nuisance if they do any act that causes common injury, danger, or annoyance to the public or to the people living in that area.
While the Gwalior police only issued a traffic challan in this specific case, individuals who block traffic, create chaos, or endanger others for social media views can be criminally charged under this section. You have the right to make content, but that right ends the moment it interferes with the safety and peace of the general public.
Can Police Issue Challans Based On Instagram Videos?
Many people wonder how the police can fine someone just by watching a video online. The answer is simple: digital evidence is fully valid in India.
Under the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 (which replaced the Indian Evidence Act), electronic records like photos, CCTV footage, and social media videos are recognized as solid evidence. Traffic police departments across India have set up dedicated social media monitoring cells. If you upload a video of yourself breaking a traffic rule—whether it is riding without a helmet, performing a wheelie, or driving a lipstick-covered car—the police can legally generate an e-challan and send it directly to your registered address.
Why This Matters For You
This incident is a perfect example of a well-known legal principle: Ignorantia juris non excusat, which means “ignorance of the law is not an excuse.” The car owner claimed he did not know the stunt was illegal, but the police still fined him. You cannot escape a penalty simply because you were unaware of the rule.
If you are a content creator, a college student, or just someone looking to try a fun trend, remember that public roads are not private movie sets. The laws are designed to keep traffic moving safely, not to accommodate viral challenges.
The Takeaway: Think twice before turning your vehicle into an art project for social media clout. The traffic police are definitely scrolling through your feed, and a few seconds of viral fame is never worth a heavy fine and a public cleaning session.
Story reported by Top Trending News, Viral Videos, Latest Viral News, Odd News, Memes and Puzzles, Social Media Viral News | Hindustan Times | Hindustan Times. This article is BareLaw’s independent explanation and analysis.
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