RCB Challenges Court Decision on Bangalore Stampede, Petitions for Deletion of Certain Passages
The Karnataka government has released a status report on the tragic stampede that occurred at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4, 2025, which resulted in 11 deaths and over 50 injuries. According to the report, the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) are found to be responsible for the unauthorised victory celebration parade that took place on that day.
The report, made public following a Karnataka High Court order, states that the RCB, along with its event partner DNA Networks and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), unilaterally decided to hold a victory celebration without obtaining the necessary permissions or consulting the police. The police had explicitly rejected the proposal, citing insufficient information, short notice, and lack of formal permission requests.
Despite the police denial, RCB posted invites on social media encouraging fans to gather for the victory parade from Vidhana Soudha to the stadium, proceeding without the necessary approvals. The government report criticised the event as violating the Licensing and Controlling of Assemblies and Processions (Bangalore City) Order, 2009, highlighting procedural lapses by RCB and partners in organising the event.
The report also questioned the police's handling of the situation but primarily placed the onus on RCB and collaborating entities for initiating and promoting the unauthorised event that led to the tragic crowd surge and stampede. The RCB is expected to have made proper applications to the police, providing information about the size of the expected crowd, timings, parking arrangements, and bottlenecks ahead of the event.
In addition, the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) order states that due to a shortage of time, the police were unable to make appropriate arrangements for the gathering. Lakhs of fans gathered at the stadium after the RCB announced that entry was free. The CAT report also mentions that the RCB failed to consult the police or seek their permission before inviting a large number of people to the celebration at the stadium.
The state government suspended three top police officers, including the city police chief, following the stampede. The RCB has objected to the CAT's claim that they were responsible for the stampede outside Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy stadium. The RCB's advocate, Sandesh Chouta, stated that the Deputy Chief Minister, DK Shivakumar, picked up the team from the airport and took them to the Vidhan Soudha.
The event at the Vidhan Soudha was organised by the state government. The RCB faces massive criticism for mismanagement, with the state government and the police coming under scrutiny for their handling of the situation. The stampede has been a significant blow to the reputation of the RCB and the Karnataka government, and efforts are being made to ensure that such incidents do not occur in the future.
- The Karnataka government's report, following the tragic stampede at Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4, 2025, reveals that the incident was related to a general-news event, the unauthorised victory celebration parade for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in football, a sport.
- Amidst the criticism for mismanagement, the RCB is currently under the spotlight in crime-and-justice discussions, as the report primarily places the blame on RCB and collaborating entities for initiating and promoting the unauthorised event that led to the stampede.
