Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has approached the Karnataka High Court seeking to quash the criminal case filed against them following the tragic stampede at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4, 2025. The incident, which occurred during a public event organized to celebrate the team's maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title win, resulted in the deaths of 11 people and left many others injured.

The First Information Report (FIR) filed against RCB includes charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and criminal negligence. RCB's owner, Royal Challengers Sports Limited (RCSL), has argued that they have been falsely implicated in the case. The event organizer, DNA Entertainment Networks Pvt Ltd, has also filed a separate petition challenging the FIR against them. Nikhil Sosale, RCB’s head of marketing, who was arrested in connection with the incident, has also petitioned the court to challenge his detention.

The stampede occurred as large crowds gathered near the stadium to celebrate RCB's victory. Eyewitness accounts and video footage suggest that overcrowding and inadequate crowd management contributed to the disaster. A preliminary government report indicated that a temporary slab over a drain collapsed under the weight of the crowd, causing panic and triggering the stampede.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, the Karnataka government has taken several actions. They handed over the investigation to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), which formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) consisting of 15 members to investigate the circumstances and planning failures that led to the stampede. Additionally, five police officers, including the city's police commissioner, were suspended for lapses in security arrangements. The government also appointed Seemanth Kumar Singh as the new Bengaluru police chief.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed his grief over the incident and clarified that the government did not organize the event at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. He stated that he was informed about the incident nearly two hours after it occurred. He also mentioned that five police officers had been suspended, and the intelligence chief and his political secretary had been replaced.

RCB has announced financial assistance of ₹10 lakh for each of the families of the deceased. The team has also created a fund called "RCB Cares" to support fans injured in the incident.

Meanwhile, the Karnataka High Court granted interim protection to KSCA officials named in the FIR: Raghuram Bhat (President), A Shankar (Secretary), and E.S. Jairam (Treasurer). A complaint was also filed against Virat Kohli in connection with the stampede. The Cubbon Park police stated that the complaint would be considered under the already registered case and verified during the investigation.

The incident has prompted discussions about the need for better safety measures at public events. Home Minister G Parameshwara stated that the state would soon roll out a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to prevent such incidents in the future.