Following the tragic stampede in Bengaluru during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Indian Premier League (IPL) victory celebrations, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has sacked his political secretary, K. Govindaraju. The incident, which occurred on June 4, 2025, resulted in the deaths of 11 people and injuries to dozens more, triggering widespread criticism and demands for accountability.
The state government issued a notification on Friday, June 6, relieving K. Govindaraju of his duties with immediate effect. While the government did not explicitly state the reason for his removal, it comes amid intense scrutiny of the event's organization and allegations of mismanagement.
Prior to his sacking, Govindaraju publicly denied media reports suggesting he had advised the Chief Minister against holding a victory parade from the airport to Vidhana Soudha for the RCB players. He dismissed these reports as "baseless" and stated that his words had been misinterpreted. He further distanced himself from the controversy, emphasizing his role as the head of the Karnataka Olympic Association and claiming he would be the last person to advise on cricket-related matters.
The stampede occurred near the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, where thousands of fans had gathered to celebrate RCB's first-ever IPL win. Reports indicate that the stadium, with a capacity of approximately 35,000, was overwhelmed by a crowd estimated to be between 200,000 and 300,000 people. The massive turnout, coupled with inadequate security arrangements and narrow entry gates, led to chaotic scenes as fans attempted to gain access to the stadium.
Eyewitness accounts describe a desperate scramble, with people pushing and shoving each other, climbing over barriers, and even breaking through gates. Police officials reported resorting to lathi charges in an attempt to control the crowd, but their efforts proved insufficient. The situation quickly spiraled out of control, resulting in the deadly stampede.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, the state government has faced mounting pressure to take action. Besides the removal of the Chief Minister's political secretary, several IPS officers, including the Bengaluru city police commissioner, B. Dayananda, have been suspended for alleged dereliction of duty. The government has also initiated a magisterial inquiry into the incident, with a deadline of 15 days to submit a report. The Karnataka High Court has taken suo motu cognizance of the matter and has directed the state government to file a detailed status report by June 10, including the reasons that led to the tragedy and measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against RCB, the event management firm DNA Entertainment Private Limited, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) for alleged negligence. Police reports suggest that RCB, KSCA, and DNA provided incorrect information regarding passes and free entry, creating confusion among the fans and contributing to the chaos.
Adding to the fallout, four people, including the marketing head of RCB, Nikhil Sosale, were detained at Kempegowda International Airport as they were allegedly attempting to leave the city.
RCB has announced financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh each for the families of the deceased. They have also initiated a fund called RCB Cares to support fans injured in the incident.
The incident has sparked political controversy, with opposition parties demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, alleging that their "mutual fight and rift" led to a "government-manufactured stampede."
