The Karnataka High Court has mandated the full disclosure of the status report concerning the M Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede that occurred on June 4, 2025, which tragically resulted in 11 fatalities. The court's decision, delivered on July 14, 2025, rejected the state government's request to keep the report sealed.

The court, presided over by Acting Chief Justice V Kameswar Rao and Justice CM Joshi, directed that the June 12 status report, along with any translations provided by the state, be incorporated into court records and shared with all respondents in the Public Interest Litigation (PIL). These respondents include the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), and DNA Entertainment Pvt Ltd. The initial request for a sealed cover, made by Advocate-General Shashikiran Shetty, was dismissed.

The High Court deemed Advocate-General Shetty's arguments insufficient, emphasizing that sealed cover proceedings are typically reserved for matters involving public interest, national security, or privacy rights. The bench asserted that the current case did not meet these criteria. Furthermore, the court refuted the government's concern that disclosing the report would influence the ongoing magisterial inquiry or judicial commission, stating that such concerns did not align with established parameters for sealed cover proceedings. The court reasoned that a retired High Court judge or an All-India service officer leading these inquiries would not be swayed by the state's status report.

The High Court underscored that the proceedings were initiated to gain a comprehensive understanding of the causes of the stampede and to implement preventive measures for the future. The justices believe that sharing the report would enable all parties involved to provide better assistance to the court in understanding the facts and circumstances surrounding the June 4 incident. The court also agreed that Section 192(5) of BNSS did not apply, thus eliminating grounds for investigative confidentiality. The court concurred that the facts presented would not change after the inquiry reports.

This decision marks a shift from earlier proceedings in June 2025, during which the High Court had initially allowed the government to submit the status report in a sealed cover, influenced by concerns that public disclosure could potentially affect the judicial inquiry and ongoing bail hearings. However, the court later questioned the government's insistence on keeping the report sealed, emphasizing the importance of transparency and accountability in the investigative process. The High Court, in early July, had also instructed the state government not to file a final report in the case without obtaining the court's permission, ensuring a thorough investigation before any conclusions are finalized.