Mumbai Protester Rhiya Ahir Alleges Harassment After Viral Police Van Incident
Mumbai, 6th August 2026: Model Rhiya Ahir, who gained nationwide attention after a video of her standing in front of a Mumbai Police van during recent student protests went viral, has alleged that she has been subjected to sustained online harassment and abuse following the incident.
Addressing a press conference alongside Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and several student protesters, Ahir said she wants to be remembered not as “the viral girl” but as someone who intervened to prevent students from being “unlawfully detained.”
“I am not the girl who went viral for stopping the Mumbai Police. I am the girl who stopped 20 kids from being unlawfully detained. Please change your narrative, change your perspective,” Ahir said.
She claimed that after the video circulated widely on social media, she became the target of abusive comments, degrading posts, and coordinated online harassment. According to Ahir, despite filing a complaint with the authorities, it has not yet been converted into a First Information Report (FIR).
Describing the abuse as more than just social media trolling, Ahir said the harassment amounted to a criminal act and called for appropriate legal action against those responsible.
The press conference also highlighted concerns raised by student protesters regarding police action during the demonstrations. Rahul Gandhi attended the event in support of the students and heard their accounts of the protests and the events that followed.
As of now, Mumbai Police has not issued a detailed public response regarding Ahir’s allegations or the status of her complaint. The matter has sparked discussions on online harassment, freedom of protest, and the need for stronger action against cyber abuse.
