A third-episode argument over alliances spiraled into an alleged assault, forcing producers to invoke the show's strict no-violence rule inside the Tower.
Siwet Tomar was evicted from Rise And Fall Season 2 after a confrontation with fellow contestant Shehzad Poonawalla turned physical during the show's third episode, with reports published on September 28, 2026 saying Tomar grabbed Poonawalla by the neck and pushed him to the ground, tearing his kurta and reportedly leaving him injured. Because physical violence is explicitly banned inside the show's central playing area, known as the Tower, the makers of the MX Player original removed Tomar from the competition rather than let the dispute play out through a normal elimination vote.
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How the Confrontation Unfolded Inside the Tower
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According to multiple outlets, the clash stemmed from a dispute connected to alliances and the contestants' "Ultimate Ruler" phase of the game, with one report specifying that the argument also touched on religion. Promotional footage showed Tomar and Poonawalla engaged in a heated verbal exchange before the confrontation escalated into physical contact, with Tomar approaching Poonawalla, grabbing him around the neck and pushing him down.
Actor Swara Bhasker was shown intervening as tensions rose, asking Tomar not to hit Poonawalla, according to Mid-Day's coverage of the promo. Poonawalla later displayed his torn kurta as evidence of the altercation. Not every account agrees on the precise mechanics of the incident, however; one Times of India report described Tomar as getting physical with Poonawalla "from behind," suggesting Poonawalla was not an active physical participant, while other reports emphasize the neck grab and push as the central act of aggression.
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Producers Invoke the No-Violence Rule
Rise And Fall operates on a social and economic hierarchy format in which contestants are split between a more privileged upper zone, referred to as the Tower, and a lower section tied to strategy, nominations and alliance-building. That structure makes disputes over loyalty and influence a recurring flashpoint, but the show's producers maintain an unambiguous rule that physical violence is not tolerated within the Tower regardless of provocation.
Reports say the makers treated Tomar's conduct as a straightforward rule violation and eliminated him rather than allowing the incident to be adjudicated through the normal nomination or voting process. IANS reported that Tomar became the first contestant evicted from the season, a distinction that instantly made him the show's earliest major controversy just three episodes into its run under new host Virender Sehwag, the former India cricketer fronting Season 2.
Divided Reactions From Contestants and Viewers
The eviction split opinion both inside the house and among viewers. India Today reported that the incident triggered walkout threats from Swara Bhasker and Karan Patel, both of whom appeared to place partial blame on provocation for the escalation, even though that framing does not change the show's stated zero-tolerance stance on physical contact. Other entertainment outlets described the walkout threats as part of the episode's immediate fallout rather than confirmed, permanent exits from the competition.
Online audiences were similarly divided, with some questioning whether Poonawalla should also have faced consequences for his role in provoking the confrontation, while others insisted that the contestant who initiated physical contact was rightly removed. iDiva noted that "the internet is divided over what actually happened," reflecting the gap between the show's official disciplinary action and public debate over fairness, given that verbal sparring is otherwise a core, encouraged element of the format.
Who Is Siwet Tomar and What Comes Next
Tomar is a model, digital content creator and reality-television personality from Dehradun, Uttarakhand, born on July 3, 1998, making him 28 in 2026. He reportedly won the title of Mr Dehradun in 2018 before building a media profile through appearances on MTV's Roadies, Splitsvilla and the reality series The 50, alongside modelling and digital content work that has reportedly earned him more than 500,000 Instagram followers. One report also cited his schooling in Dehradun and a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Government Degree College, Raipur, though this detail has not been independently verified beyond entertainment biographies.
Poonawalla, described in coverage as a political analyst and former BJP spokesperson, brought a markedly different public profile into the house compared with Tomar's influencer background. Following his eviction, Tomar reportedly broke his silence with a defiant message, quoted in headlines as "I won't back off," with India TV reporting that he defended his actions in the physical fight. The available reporting does not confirm any police complaint, medical report or formal production-house statement beyond the enforcement of the no-violence rule, nor does it establish whether Tomar could return via a wildcard route or reunion appearance, leaving those possibilities speculative pending any announcement from the broadcaster.
