Hindu festival defamed: Christian journalist falsely links boy’s death to Dahi Handi celebrations
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India 
15 August, 2025
Case Summary
Fake news regarding the Dahi Handi event, a Hindu religious celebration, was circulated by Christian journalist Richa Pinto, who is the Assistant Editor of the 'Times of India' newspaper. In Hinduism, Dahi Handi is a vibrant event observed during Krishna Janmashtami, which marks the birth of Lord Krishna, a highly revered deity. Teams of participants form human pyramids to reach and break an earthen pot (handi) filled with curd/butter, symbolising Krishna's playful childhood habit of stealing butter. Krishna Janmashtami carries immense spiritual significance, honouring the divine incarnation believed to guide and protect dharma. According to media reports, a 14-year-old boy named Rohan Mohan Valvi from Andheri, Mumbai, died in the evening on 16th August 2025. Richa Pinto linked his death to the celebrations of Dahi Handi. However, Rohan, belonging to the Gaondevi Govinda Pathak, had not been involved in the human pyramid formation. Rohan suffered from jaundice, as stated by officials of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). During the celebration, Rohan had been sitting in a tempo when he suddenly collapsed. He was first taken to a private hospital and then transferred to Rajawadi Hospital in Ghatkopar, where doctors pronounced him dead at about 9 pm. It was confirmed that Rohan did not participate in the Dahi Handi event. In spite of this, the Christian journalist misrepresented his death as being caused by injuries from the Dahi Handi event.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the primary category- Hate Speech against Hindus. Within this, the subcategory selected is- Anti-Hindu subversion and prejudice. Within this, the tertiary category selected is- Anti-Hindu fake news or downplaying. Hate speech is defined as any speech, gesture, conduct, writing, or display that is prejudicial against a specific individual and/or group of people, which is leading to or may lead to violence, prejudicial action or hate against that individual and/or group. Media plays a specific and overarching reach in perpetuating prejudicial attitudes towards a community owing to unfair, untrue coverage and/or misrepresentation/misinterpretation, selective coverage and/or omission of facts of/pertaining to issues affecting a specific religious group. This type of bias can dehumanise the victim group, making it easier for others to justify harmful actions against them, which aligns with the objectives of hate speech laws aimed at preventing such harm. It is often observed that the media takes a prejudicial stand against the Hindu community driven by their need to shield the aggressor community which happens to be a numeric minority, however, is the one perpetrating violence against Hindus. For example, the media is often quick to contextualise religiously motivated crimes against Hindus, omit or misrepresent facts that point towards religiously motivated hate crimes, justify and/or downplay religiously motivated hate crimes or simply present fake news to stereotype Hindus. Such media bias leads to the denial of persecution and is often used to dehumanise Hindus, leading to justification for violence against them. For example, the media covered several fake allegations of Hindus targeting Muslims and forcing them to chant Jai Shree Ram. Most of these cases were proved false and fabricated after police investigation. These fake news reports were subsequently never retracted or clarified. Such fake news led to the justification of violence and dehumanisation of Hindus based on the argument that since Hindus targeted Muslims and forced them to chant Jai Shree Ram, the dehumanisation of Hindus and violence against them was par for the course and merely a retaliation. Such media bias leads to prejudicial portrayal of Hindus and offers a justification for violence against them and therefore, is considered hate speech under this category. This incident stands as a clear example of anti-Hindu behaviour and religiously motivated hate speech. The Christian journalist Richa Pinto spread false news by linking the tragic death of a Hindu boy to the Dahi Handi event, when in reality, the child passed away due to jaundice and not from falling during the festival. Such deliberate misinformation was designed to create fear and a negative impression around a beloved Hindu celebration, painting it as unsafe and reckless. By falsely associating a fatality with a revered Hindu ritual, the accused not only attempted to malign the festival but also sought to undermine its sanctity and traditions. This led to the creation of a negative stereotype, portraying Hindu festivals as dangerous, thereby causing unnecessary alarm and discrediting the cultural practices of the Hindu community. Such targeted actions are not accidental; rather, they are rooted in underlying religious animosity, aiming to denigrate Hindu festivals and diminish their social standing. Intentionally spreading misleading stories about Hindu practices, especially during significant religious occasions like Janmashtami, directly attacks the Hindu faith and its followers. It fuels public misunderstanding and perpetuates negative stereotypes, which is a classic form of hate speech targeting a religious group. This behaviour undermines social harmony and incites prejudice against Hindus, making it a clear case of anti-Hindu, religiously motivated hate speech. Given that this case is an example of hate speech targeting a Hindu festival, it is being added to the hate crime database.
Case Status
Unknown
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Christian Extremists
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
female
Sources 
