The case drew national attention to women's safety and political influence in India, fueling the viral #AintNoCinderella movement.
Key Facts
- Date of incident
- 4 August 2017
- Victim
- Varnika Kundu, disc jockey
- Alleged perpetrators
- Vikas Barala and Ashish Kumar
- Viral hashtag
- #AintNoCinderella
- Trial status (as of Aug 2025)
- Ongoing, no final verdict
- 2025 controversy
- Barala briefly appointed as Assistant Advocate General
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Vikas Barala, son of a Haryana politician, and his friend Ashish Kumar allegedly followed and harassed Varnika Kundu late at night in Chandigarh on 4 August 2017. The accused's political connections raised immediate concerns about whether influence would obstruct justice.
Kundu documented the stalking incident and shared it on social media, where her post went viral. The case drew national media coverage and prompted public debate about gender-based violence, the vulnerability of women in public spaces, and the protection afforded to the politically connected.
The #AintNoCinderella hashtag emerged as a nationwide protest symbol against victim-blaming. The case exposed judicial delays in India's criminal system, and a 2025 controversy over Barala's brief appointment as Assistant Advocate General renewed public outcry. As of August 2025, the trial remains ongoing with no verdict delivered.