TV actor Sumona Chakravarti recently shared a frightening experience she had during the ongoing Maratha quota protests in South Mumbai, expressing her fear and frustration in a lengthy social media post. The incident took place on Sunday, August 31, as a massive demonstration led by Manoj Jarange for a 10% reservation for Marathas entered its third day.
Sumona recounted that her car was suddenly mobbed by protestors while she was driving from Colaba to Fort around 12:30 pm. She described a man banging on her car’s bonnet and pressing himself against her vehicle, while others pounded on her windows and shouted “Jai Maharashtra.” The incident was repeated just a few minutes later, leaving her feeling completely unsafe in an area of South Mumbai where she has always felt secure.
Further compounding her frustration, she saw police officers sitting idly nearby, seemingly unbothered by the chaos. She also noted the roads were littered with garbage, calling it a “complete mockery of civic sense.” Sumona admitted that she was relieved to have a male friend with her and felt vulnerable as a woman. Although she was tempted to record the incident, she chose not to, fearing it would provoke the mob.
In her powerful Instagram post, she reflected on the broader issues of safety and governance. “It’s frightening when you realise that no matter who you are, or where you are, law and order can collapse in seconds,” she wrote. She also criticised the inconsistent response to protests, highlighting how peaceful demonstrations are often met with crackdowns, while the chaos she witnessed was “absolute lawlessness.”
Sumona concluded her message with a plea for better governance and safety, stating, “We deserve better than this mockery of governance and civic responsibility. We deserve the right to feel safe in our own city.”
In terms of her career, Sumona was a contestant on the reality show Khatron Ke Khiladi 14 (2024), finishing in 7th place, and also recently appeared in Laughter Chefs—Unlimited Entertainment.