In the aftermath of the tragic stampede that occurred during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) victory celebration on Wednesday, the Bengaluru Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against several entities, including the RCB franchise, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) Administrative Committee, and event management firm DNA Entertainment Networks. The FIR, lodged at the Cubbon Park Police Station, cites criminal negligence as the primary cause of the incident that resulted in the deaths of 11 people and injuries to over 50 others.
The incident took place outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, where a large crowd had gathered to celebrate RCB's recent IPL victory. Reports indicate that the stadium had a capacity of approximately 30,000 people, but over 200,000 fans turned up for the felicitation event. This massive influx of people led to chaotic scenes, ultimately culminating in the deadly stampede. A senior police officer, the Deputy Commissioner of Police of Bengaluru north, who was on duty at the stadium, was also injured in the stampede and admitted to a nearby hospital.
The Karnataka High Court has taken suo motu cognizance of the matter and has begun hearing the case. A division bench has directed the state government to file a detailed status report on the incident by June 10th, treating the matter as a public interest litigation petition. The court has sought a government report specifically addressing the security lapses that led to the tragedy.
In response to the tragedy, RCB has announced a financial assistance of ₹10 lakh each for the families of the deceased. Meanwhile, the state government has appointed a district magistrate, G. Jagadeesha, to investigate the incident. Jagadeesha has already begun his investigation, inspecting the stadium gates where the crowding occurred and reviewing CCTV footage. He will also be taking statements from the families of the deceased and injured, as well as police officers who were deployed during the event. The general public has also been invited to provide statements on June 13th. Jagadeesha is expected to submit his report to the state government within 15 days. The investigation aims to pinpoint the exact causes of the stampede and determine the extent of negligence on the part of the organizers and authorities.
