Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) President Raghu Ram Bhat, along with other office bearers, filed a petition in the Karnataka High Court to dismiss the First Information Report (FIR) lodged against them concerning the tragic stampede at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
The FIR, registered on Thursday, 5 June, targeted Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), DNA Entertainment Private Limited, and KSCA for alleged negligence. Police sources reported that four officials from RCB and DNA Entertainment were detained on Friday morning.
On Thursday, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah directed the state’s Director General and Inspector General of Police to swiftly arrest representatives of RCB, DNA Entertainment, and KSCA, citing apparent “carelessness” and “irresponsibility” in the incident.
The stampede, which unfolded on the evening of 4 June during celebrations for RCB’s inaugural IPL title, resulted in 11 deaths—all victims under 40—and 56 injuries.
The day, initially filled with joy over RCB’s first IPL victory after 18 years, turned sorrowful on Wednesday, 4 June, when an estimated two lakh fans flooded Bengaluru’s streets, spurred by a public felicitation at Vidhana Soudha and unclear communication about a victory parade that police had not authorised.
Eager to see the trophy and RCB players, fans climbed trees, walls, and rooftops, leading to a chaotic crush at the 32,000-capacity stadium. Narrow passages and overcrowding caused a deadly surge, with medical reports attributing all fatalities to asphyxia, a condition caused by oxygen deprivation.
Siddaramaiah ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident, which drew sharp opposition criticism for inadequate crowd control. He announced ₹10 lakh ex-gratia payments for the families of the deceased, a sum matched by RCB, while KSCA pledged ₹5 lakh per family. RCB also introduced “RCB Cares,” a fund to support the injured.
The Karnataka High Court, acting on its own accord, instructed the Advocate General to seek the state government’s response on the stampede’s causes and preventive steps. Initially, Bengaluru City Police filed 11 Unnatural Death Reports (UDRs) instead of an FIR, a move that raised questions until the FIR was filed on 5 June.
On 5 June, State Home Minister G. Parameshwara declared that the government would establish a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for large-scale events to ensure such tragedies are avoided in the future, reflecting a commitment to enhanced safety measures following the incident that overshadowed RCB’s historic triumph.