• Home
  • Cricket News
  • Rcb Not To Be Left In Dark Karnataka Hc Orders Stampede Report Disclosure

RCB Not To Be Left In Dark; Karnataka HC Orders Stampede Report Disclosure

Sakshi Sharma

Benagluru's stampede (Source:@assacheyroX,x.com)Benagluru's stampede (Source:@assacheyroX,x.com)

In a significant development, the Karnataka High Court has directed the state government to share a copy of the status report on the June 4 stampede outside Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium with the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), and DNA Entertainment Networks. 

The tragic incident occurred during RCB’s victory parade, a day after the franchise lifted its first-ever Indian Premier League (IPL) trophy.

HC Tells State To Share Stampede Report With RCB

A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice V Kameswar Rao and Justice C M Joshi issued the ruling while hearing a suo motu Public Interest Litigation (PIL) regarding the stampede that claimed eleven lives and left several others injured. The court firmly rejected the state government’s plea to keep the report sealed, stating that the grounds cited did not justify  privacy under existing legal norms.

It is also important to mention that the court also dismissed the state’s argument that was  disclosing the report could affect ongoing probes by a judicial commission and a magistrate. The bench found the claim speculative, asserting that such high-level investigations, led by retired judges and All-India Service officers, would remain independent and impartial.

In its remarks, the court underlined that withholding the report from the key stakeholders-RCB, KSCA, and DNA Entertainment, while simultaneously seeking their cooperation in the investigation was inherently 'unfair.' 

The judges emphasized that these parties could help establish a clearer understanding of the sequence of events, identify contributing factors, and assist in determining if the tragedy could have been avoided.

“If the sealed cover is opened and the report is shared with the respondents, they can help the court better understand the sequence of events, contributing factors, and whether the tragedy was avoidable,” the court said.

This development follows a recent petition filed by RCB challenging the Central Administrative Tribunal’s (CAT) initial statement, which held the franchise responsible for the stampede. In its official comments, the tribunal criticized RCB’s decision to host the victory parade merely a day after its historic IPL win on May 3, leaving authorities with little time to implement crowd control and safety measures.