Karnataka Report Blames RCB, Event Partner for Deadly Bengaluru Stampede After Victory Parade

RCB Blamed by Karnataka Government for Deadly Stampede in Bengaluru

The Karnataka government has released a report assigning blame to the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) management for the stampede that occurred outside M Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4. The tragic incident resulted in 11 fatalities and over 50 injuries. The report, made public on Thursday (July 17) following a Karnataka High Court directive, outlines the findings of an investigation into the event.

The Karnataka government has held RCB management responsible for the stampede © Getty

The report also implicates DNA Networks, RCB's event partner, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) for their roles in organizing the event without obtaining the necessary clearances. It specifically highlights that RCB proceeded with the parade despite explicit rejection from the police department.

According to the report, "There was no formal request for permission from the organisers, nor were the required information and details provided, which meant that the request for permission could not be considered. Consequently, the permission was not granted to the letter of intimation dated 3.06.2025 given to the concerned PI," directly placing the responsibility on the franchise.

The report further states that KSCA CEO Subhendu Ghosh informed the Cubbon Park police on the evening of June 3 about a planned parade contingent upon the team winning the final. However, the police denied the proposal due to insufficient details and the extremely short notice. Despite this rejection, RCB allegedly proceeded to post invitations on social media at 7:01 am on June 4, urging fans to gather for a victory parade from Vidhana Soudha to the stadium.

Statutory rules mandate that applications for such parades be submitted at least seven days in advance, excluding the date of the event. The court noted that the celebration was planned hastily after RCB secured the IPL 2025 title on June 3.

The investigation revealed that social media posts, including a video featuring Virat Kohli inviting fans to join the celebration, generated immense online engagement, leading to an unexpectedly large gathering. The report cited an RCB Instagram post with the caption, "I'm going to feel the real side of it when we get to Bengaluru tomorrow and celebrate this with the city" - Virat Kohli, as a key factor in attracting the massive crowd.

The report estimates that the public gathering exceeded 300,000 people. This estimation is based on the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) ridership numbers for June 4, 2025, which recorded approximately 966,000 passengers, significantly higher than the average daily ridership of 600,000. This figure, combined with those who used other modes of transport or traveled on foot, suggests a crowd well over 300,000.

The report details that on June 4, 2025, at approximately 3 p.m., a sudden surge of people occurred in the confined area surrounding Chinnaswamy Stadium. This massive crowd, estimated at around 300,000, far surpassed the stadium's capacity of 35,000. The concentration of people at the entry gates was fueled by posts from RCB and the organizers on their official social media accounts, initially stating that entry to the event would be free for all.

The report also points out that a clarifying post was belatedly published around 3:14 pm on the official social media accounts of RCB, DNA, and the organizers. This post stated that entry to the stadium would require limited free passes, leading to widespread confusion, frustration, and chaos among the public who had already gathered.

The government emphasized that no license was sought under the Licensing and Controlling of Assemblies and Processions (Bangalore City) Order, 2009, and that a mere intimation to the police was insufficient. "There was no requisition for permission in the prescribed format, nor was any necessary information provided to the concerned departments to anticipate the gathering and make adequate preparation."

The report further alleges that crowd control was delegated to the police just hours before the event, resulting in severe overcrowding and security breaches at several gates, including Gates 1, 2, and 21.

In related news, the state government is contesting the Central Administrative Tribunal's decision to revoke the suspension of IPS officer Vikash Kumar and four others. The government argues that these officers failed to take necessary preventive action. The report questions, "What was the officer doing? Did he take any action? Instead of issuing prohibitory orders under the Police Act, they proceeded with bandobast arrangements for the celebration."

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) investigation is nearing completion, with senior officials from RCB and DNA Networks having already provided their statements. A definitive timeline for the final judgment has not yet been established.