Shehzad Poonawalla, the newly crowned winner of Rise and Fall Season 2, has fired back at co-contestant Tej Pratap Yadav after the latter questioned the show’s result. The fallout began on November 6, 2026, when Yadav took to X (formerly Twitter) to claim that Gautam Gulati was the rightful winner and accused Poonawalla of being favoured due to political connections. He alleged 'vote chori' — a
Shehzad Poonawalla, the winner of Rise and Fall Season 2, has lashed out at fellow contestant Tej Pratap Yadav after the latter questioned the legitimacy of the finale results. The controversy erupted on November 6, 2026, when Yadav took to X to argue that Gautam Gulati was the more deserving winner and accused Poonawalla of receiving preferential treatment due to his political background.
He alleged manipulation in the voting process, claiming that public votes were overlooked — a charge he framed as 'vote chori', a term often invoked in Indian electoral politics when results are disputed. His post, later deleted, ignited debate across social media, with viewers divided over whether the outcome was fair.
Poonawalla, who served as a former BJP spokesperson, responded swiftly. In a statement shared via video, he dismissed Yadav’s claims as hollow theatrics, saying, “I don’t take Tej Pratap very seriously. Nobody takes him seriously, neither in his family, former political party nor in Bihar, as he is considered a joker of Indian politics.” He added that allegations of vote chori had become a routine fallback whenever someone loses, citing Rahul Gandhi’s past responses to electoral defeats as a parallel.
Poonawalla further escalated the exchange with a social media clip where he launched a personal attack on Yadav’s family, accusing them of systemic dishonesty. “Tej Pratap ko mera keval chota sa advise hai,” he said. “Tej Pratap, jiske parivaar mai khandani chor ho… jo khud, vote chori chodho, baaki chori karne mai maahir ho… chara chori, jameen chori, job chori.” He went on to note that members of Yadav’s family have been convicted, suggesting they lack moral authority to speak on integrity.
The remarks, delivered in Hindi, underscored a shift from game show rivalry to a broader political jab. While the show’s producers have not commented publicly, the fallout has turned the finale into a flashpoint for debates about influence, fairness, and the blurred lines between reality TV and real-world power dynamics.
Whether Yadav will respond remains unknown. But the conversation isn’t just about who won the game, it’s about what happens when the game becomes a stage for real-life reckonings.
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