The Karnataka government has held Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) responsible for the tragic stampede that occurred outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4 during the team’s IPL victory celebrations. In a report submitted to the High Court, the government cited multiple lapses, including a public appeal by star cricketer Virat Kohli that allegedly led to an overwhelming turnout. The stampede resulted in 11 deaths and left several others injured, raising serious questions about event planning and crowd control.
The government stated that the event organiser, DNA Entertainment Networks Pvt Ltd, had only informed police of a victory parade on June 3 but failed to obtain the mandatory formal permission, as required under a 2009 city order. Acting on this, the police had denied approval for the celebration. Despite the refusal, RCB proceeded with the promotional activities, including the public announcement of the event.
On the day of the incident, June 4, RCB issued open invitations via social media, encouraging fans to attend the free-entry celebration. A video featuring Kohli urging supporters to join further amplified the public response. The government noted that these actions played a major role in drawing a crowd of over three lakh people—far exceeding the expected numbers and what authorities were equipped to handle—ultimately resulting in chaos and tragedy.
