A young man in Gwalior faced a traffic fine after his girlfriend covered his car with approximately 3,400 lipstick kiss marks in an attempt to create a viral social media video. The unusual decoration quickly attracted online attention but also drew the notice of local traffic authorities.
Aditya Sikarwar of Gwalior became involved in the trend when his girlfriend spent nearly four hours applying lipstick marks across almost every visible surface of the vehicle. The marks covered the doors, bonnet, boot, pillars, and other exterior parts, giving the car a distinctive and highly noticeable appearance on the road.
Photographs of the heavily decorated vehicle circulated widely on social media platforms. Traffic police in Gwalior observed the number plate visible in the images and used it to identify and locate the car. Officers later found the vehicle in the Thatipur area of the city.
Authorities determined that covering the car so extensively with another material altered its original appearance in a manner not permitted under motor vehicle rules and road-safety regulations. Sikarwar was summoned by the police and acknowledged that the car had been decorated in this way.
Officials imposed a fine of ₹5,500 on the vehicle owner. In addition to the monetary penalty, police ensured the lipstick marks were completely removed. The car was washed under official supervision, with Sikarwar cleaning the vehicle himself as shown in circulating video footage.
What started as an effort to participate in a popular online trend therefore concluded with a formal challan and a compulsory cleaning of the car. The episode has highlighted the potential legal and practical consequences that can arise when social media challenges involve modifications to vehicles used on public roads.
Traffic regulations require vehicles to maintain their standard appearance and markings for safety and identification purposes. Alterations that obscure or significantly change the exterior may attract enforcement action, as occurred in this case. The incident serves as a reminder of the need to balance creative expression with compliance with applicable traffic laws.