By Rohit - Jul 17, 2025 04:53 PM
The Karnataka government has squarely blamed Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for the tragic stampede outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4 that claimed 11 lives and left several others injured during an IPL victory parade celebration.
In a report submitted to the High Court, the government cited a video appeal by star cricketer Virat Kohli that significantly contributed to the overwhelming crowd turnout. The video, which invited fans to attend the celebration, was published on social media and is said to have drawn over three lakh people, far exceeding manageable limits.
According to the submission, DNA Entertainment Networks Pvt Ltd, the event organiser, merely informed the police of a planned parade on June 3 but did not seek formal permission. As per a 2009 city order, formal approval is mandatory. Based on this, the police explicitly denied permission for the event.
Despite the refusal, RCB moved forward with promotional activities. On June 4, they issued public invitations on social media, one of which featured the now-controversial video of Kohli. The Karnataka government argues that this aggravated the situation, with the crowd exceeding control capacity.
At 3:14 PM on the day of the event, organisers unexpectedly announced that entry passes would be required to access the stadium. This contradicted earlier announcements of open public entry and caused confusion and panic among the crowd already gathered.
The report further noted a lack of coordination among RCB, DNA Entertainment, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA). Issues at entry gates and delays in opening them resulted in a stampede-like scenario. Seven police personnel were reportedly injured in the ensuing disorder.
To prevent the situation from worsening, the police permitted a scaled-down version of the event under restricted conditions. This allowed the celebration to proceed, albeit in a limited format.
Following the tragedy, the government outlined several immediate and long-term actions:
| Entity | Alleged Responsibility | Government Action |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) | Published public invitations and proceeded with the event despite police denial | Held responsible for crowd turnout and mismanagement |
| Virat Kohli | Video appeal amplified public participation | Indirectly cited as a contributing factor |
| DNA Entertainment Networks Pvt Ltd | Failed to obtain mandatory permissions | FIRs registered |
| Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) | Coordination failure | Included in report findings |
| Karnataka Police | Denied permission but failed to enforce it effectively | Disciplinary actions and injuries reported |
The matter is currently under review by the Karnataka High Court, and the judicial inquiries are expected to shed further light on lapses in planning and execution. Public debate continues around the responsibility of sports franchises and celebrities in managing public events with safety and accountability in mind.
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