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KSCA Officials Resign Over 'Moral Responsibility' For Bengaluru Stampede

Soumyajit Dutta

KSCA Officials Resign Over 'Moral Responsibility' [Source: @bhav_paaji/X]KSCA Officials Resign Over 'Moral Responsibility' [Source: @bhav_paaji/X]

In the aftermath of the tragic stampede outside M Chinnaswamy Stadium that claimed 11 lives and left dozens injured during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL 2025 victory celebrations, Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) secretary A Shankar and treasurer E Jairam tendered their resignations with immediate effect on Friday night. 

KSCA Officials Cite Moral Responsibility for Fatal Stampede

In a joint press release issued on Saturday, both officials, Shankar and Jairam, cited moral responsibility for the disaster, despite stating their roles in the event were limited.

The stampede occurred on June 4, when an unexpectedly massive crowd gathered outside the stadium following RCB’s maiden IPL title win. The chaos was further fuelled by RCB’s social media invitation offering free entry on a first-come-first-served basis, which was later withdrawn. 

While the felicitation event at the Vidhan Soudha earlier that day proceeded without incident, the situation outside the stadium spiralled out of control, resulting in the tragic loss of life.

KSCA Under Heavy Investigation

KSCA has been under intense scrutiny since the incident. An FIR was registered at Cubbon Park Police Station, naming RCB, KSCA president Raghuram Bhat, and event management company DNA Entertainment among the accused for alleged lapses in crowd and gate management. The association has maintained that gate and crowd control were not their responsibility, asserting that their involvement was limited to venue arrangements. 

The Karnataka High Court has currently restrained police from taking coercive action against KSCA officials, provided they cooperate with the ongoing investigation. The next hearing is scheduled for June 16.

Political Fallout Amidst Ongoing Probe

Notably, the resignations of A Shankar and E Jairam come amid mounting political and public pressure, with several police personnel and political aides already suspended or transferred in connection with the tragedy. 

The Karnataka government continues to face criticism over the handling of the event, with opposition parties demanding accountability from top officials. Meanwhile, the probe into the stampede and the roles of all stakeholders continues to unfold.