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Karnataka Govt Approves Criminal Case Against RCB And KSCA Over Stampede Tragedy

Jatin

RCB and KSCA face criminal charges [Source: @tirishreddy, @nabilajamal_/x.com]RCB and KSCA face criminal charges [Source: @tirishreddy, @nabilajamal_/x.com]

The Karnataka government has given the green light to file criminal cases against IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) and a host of top cops and event organisers over the June 4 stampede outside Chinnaswamy Stadium that left 11 people dead and over 70 injured. 

The damning verdict comes straight from the Justice Michael D'Cunha Commission, whose final report points fingers at everyone from RCB officials to Bengaluru police brass.

RCB And KSCA In Legal Trouble as Government Clears Criminal Proceedings

The D’Cunha Commission pulled no punches. After a month-long deep dive involving witness accounts, official statements and site visits, it concluded the stampede wasn’t a one-off tragedy, it was the result of “gross negligence and dereliction of duty.”

Despite knowing the venue wasn’t equipped to handle the crowd, all stakeholders went ahead with the event. No permissions were taken. No medical tents were set up. Just 79 cops were deployed at the gates instead of the sanctioned 515. Entry gates were mismanaged, exit routes were ignored and there was zero coordination between the organisers, police, and medical teams.

RCB, KSCA And Top Officials In The Dock

The Karnataka Cabinet accepted the judicial commission's report on July 17 and approved criminal proceedings against:

  • Royal Challengers Sports Pvt Ltd
  • DNA Entertainment Networks Pvt Ltd
  • KSCA
  • Top officials like Rajesh Menon, Dr T Venkat Vardhan, Sunil Mathur
  • Senior cops including B Dayananda, Vikash Kumar Vikash, Shekar H Tekkanavar, C Balakrishna and Girish AK

The commission noted that even after being denied police permission, RCB went ahead, riding the buzz around their IPL win. A public appeal from Virat Kohli, asking fans to gather, added fuel to the fire with thousands flocking to Chinnaswamy, most without knowing how bad things were going to get.

Security Was A No-Show

The report paints a grim picture. There were no triage zones, no ambulances near the stadium and no emergency response system in place. The Joint Commissioner of Police showed up at 4 PM after the stampede. The Police Commissioner wasn’t even informed until 5:30 PM. By then, 11 lives had already been lost.

The chaos peaked at Gates 7, 2/2A, 18, and 20, where the deaths and injuries were recorded. The commission said these choke points weren’t just mismanaged, they were accidents waiting to happen. Confusing announcements, barricades that blocked more than they guided and narrow holding zones created a recipe for disaster.

Criminal Negligence Charges Cleared To Proceed

The commission held the event organisers squarely responsible for failing to get the necessary licenses and for ignoring safety warnings. It even flagged the venue itself saying Chinnaswamy Stadium isn’t fit for mass public gatherings of that scale.

Key recommendations include:

  • Mandatory ambulance deployment based on crowd size
  • Mandatory approvals and licenses for all public events
  • Accountability for organisers if negligence leads to death or injury
  • Better integration of venue layouts with public transport and evacuation plans

What’s Next For RCB And KSCA?

With the Karnataka Cabinet clearing the legal path, FIRs filed and a High Court already breathing down everyone’s neck, this saga is far from over. The government has already suspended five police officers, including the then Bengaluru Police Commissioner, for mishandling the situation. Now, RCB, KSCA and the event firms face serious charges, including culpable homicide.

This could turn into a landmark case, not just for Indian cricket, but for how public sporting events are managed in the country. For RCB, a team that just ended its IPL title drought, it is a PR nightmare that is spiralling fast.