Television actress Sumona Chakravarti, widely recognized from The Kapil Sharma Show, reported a harrowing experience on Sunday after her car was surrounded and attacked by demonstrators involved in the Maratha reservation agitation in South Mumbai.
The incident occurred around 12:30 PM on August 31 as Chakravarti was driving from Colaba to Fort. In a detailed Instagram post, the actress described how her vehicle was abruptly stopped by a crowd.
“A person with a saffron scarf around his neck was hitting my car’s bonnet and making weird gestures,” Chakravarti wrote. “His friends were banging on my windows, screaming ‘Jai Maharashtra’ and laughing. This happened not once, but twice within minutes.”
The protest, led by activist Manoj Jarange, was on its third day at Azad Maidan. Thousands had gathered to demand 10% reservation under the OBC category for the Maratha community.
Questions Over Police Inaction and Civic Breakdown
Chakravarti expressed acute alarm, stating she felt “extremely unsafe” despite being in a part of the city typically considered secure. She noted that police personnel were present a short distance away but appeared to be merely observing, taking no action to intervene.
She painted a picture of civic chaos, describing public spaces overtaken by protesters engaged in eating, sleeping, cooking, and even defecating openly. “To be honest, it is a complete mockery of civic sense,” she stated.
The actress confessed she was genuinely frightened and credited a male friend accompanying her for preventing the situation from escalating further. She even hesitated to record a video for fear of inciting the crowd further.
“It’s scary when you realize that no matter where you are, law and order can break down in a matter of minutes,” she reflected. “We have seen peaceful protests where police immediately take strict action. Here, there was complete anarchy.”
A Call for Safety and Accountability
Identifying herself as a tax-paying citizen who loves Mumbai, Chakravarti highlighted the specific vulnerability she felt as a woman. The incident, she said, was deeply disturbing and underscored the need for a safe and responsible city, not disorder.
Sumona Chakravarti is best known for her long-running role as Kapil Sharma’s on-screen wife on the popular comedy show, which cemented her fame nationwide. Her account has sparked conversations online about public safety and the right to protest without harassing citizens.
