Bollywood Actor Sonu Sood Under Police Investigation For Viral Shirtless Riding In Spiti Valley
Indian actor and film producer Sonu Sood seems to have landed in trouble for something he had done sometime back. Controversy broke out after a video he had shared on social media in 2023, went viral again, and the Spiti police department decided to initiate action against him.
The video shows Sonu Sood riding a Blue Yamaha FZX through the Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh. He was seen shirtless in the video and had no riding gear or helmet on. He was wearing just a shorts and aviator sunglasses in the clip. It was clearly a deliberate act of personal branding and flexing. We have over the years, seen many Hollywood actors make similar videos, but in controlled environments instead of public roads.
Sood shared the video with a caption that reads 'Yeh Spiti hai…yahan sirf asli log chalte hain...' (roughly translating to 'This is Spiti, only real people are welcome here').
In the videos that followed, we saw Sony go vocal about the Spiti bike ride. He said that he had much fun riding the motorcycle there. Netizens soon slammed the actor for being such an irresponsible rider, and setting a bad example for many. Sood was once hailed as a real-life hero, after he helped thousands of migrant workers to return home during the pandemic. The social media backlash around the Spiti incident seems to have tarnished this image slightly.
Netizens have been slamming the actor so hard that the Spiti Police ended up initiating a probe against him. It is indeed unfortunate for someone to get whiplashed for something he/she had done years ago! But the protestors, do they have a point? Yes!
Influential people, especially actors doing such things in public (and further sharing the same on social media) has severe consequences. It sets a bad example and could inspire them to imitate. Imagine seeing youngsters riding motorcycles shirtless and without wearing a helmet through the streets... Well, it feels very possible when the practice itself is being endorsed by celebs!
Probe Initiated!
Likely taking the same into account, the Lahaul-Spiti Police has begun an investigation into the incident. The case has been assigned to DSP Kylang and we hope to hear more about the progress in the coming weeks. The cops have also urged the public to always follow traffic rules and be extra safe while riding, regardless of social status or profession.
This case stands extra-important due to the place involved. In environmentally sensitive areas like Spiti, irresponsible riding practices like the one exhibited by the actor in question, can be very risky for both the environment and the public. Many activists have also joined the discussion, pointing out the same.
Cops Looped In By The Public!
People have been actively tagging the official handle of Himachal Pradesh Police in the video's comment section, and this should have helped in bringing the issue to the cops' notice.
Sonu Sood has went vocal about road safety and responsible driving/riding practices in the past. This only makes the Spiti riding look serious enough to tamper his own credibility. Fans and followers have already voice concerns over the same. “You always inspired people, but don’t set a wrong example by riding a bike without a helmet.” said a user while another comment read "What will the youth learn if celebrities do this?”.
No Statement Yet From Sonu
As of now, Sonu Sood has not released any official comment about the viral video or the criticism it has drawn. However, the administration has assured that appropriate action will be taken based on the findings from the investigation.