Bengaluru woman alleges mass phone thefts during RCB vs SRH IPL 2026 match at Chinnaswamy

A woman from Bengaluru, Ritu Tiwary, has alleged that her husband’s phone was stolen during the IPL 2026 match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. She claimed that several similar thefts took place in the same stand. According to her, around 50–60 phones went missing during the game. The incident has raised serious concerns about fan safety at the venue.

In a video shared on Instagram, she explained that her husband had left his phone on the seat while going to get water during the innings break. When he returned, the phone had disappeared. She said that when they approached the stadium police, they did not receive proper help. Later, at the police station, they found many others reporting similar complaints.

Ritu also suggested that the thefts could be part of an organised operation. She has filed an FIR and requested strict action from the authorities. She mentioned that the police had already detained 10 to 12 suspects, who were minors wearing team jerseys and carrying complimentary tickets. The officials are verifying the footage from CCTV cameras.

Woman claims multiple phones stolen during high-profile IPL clash

The woman further stated, “...We went to ask the stadium police for some help, but they were least interested. So we went back to the police station where there were lots of people complaining about the same.” She added that the incident should not be ignored as it reflects a serious security lapse.

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She also wrote, “This shouldn't go unheard because it's such an organised crime where so many phone's were stolen and it's such a breach of trust & security.” She urged Bengaluru Police to recover the stolen items and take strict action against those responsible.

Ritu also pointed out that similar incidents have reportedly happened at other IPL venues like Chennai and Mumbai. She noted that most thefts occurred during the second innings when fans stepped out for food or refreshments, leaving their belongings unattended.

Fans react as security concerns emerge after incident

The incident quickly gained popularity on social media, with the video viewed more than 314,000 times and close to 10,000 likes. People have been sharing their views on the incident, with some expressing concerns about safety during events. Others, however, felt that the issue should not be generalised across all IPL matches.

One user commented, “I am sorry hear the loss but please don't spread panic and fear unnecessarily. I have attended multiple matches at Wankhede and have never faced such instances or any of my friend also faced the same. It can be a fringe incident and not a IPL-wide issue. Stop generalizing.”

Another user wrote, “Really concerning, people should feel safe at public events,” while a third suggested, “Why keep your phone unattended. We have a habit of holding our phones in our hand even when we don't need it. Keep it in your purse or pocket securely.”