Karnataka government approved RCB celebration parade on June 4, KSCA letter confirms
11 lives were lost in RCB's victory celebrations in Bengaluru on June 04.
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After the tragic stampede outside Bengaluru's M Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 04 that claimed 11 lives and left many injured, an important letter has surfaced revealing that the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) had sought the Karnataka state government's approval for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)'s IPL 2025 victory celebrations.
The letter, dated June 3, addressed to the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR), mentions KSCA’s involvement in facilitating permissions for the felicitation event held at the Vidhana Soudha. RCB’s maiden IPL title win had triggered stunning excitement among fans, leading to a large-scale public celebration.
While the official felicitation event at the Vidhana Soudha was conducted without incident, chaos was triggered outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium, where lakhs gathered after a social media invitation from the franchise. What was meant to be a moment of celebration turned into a horrific tragedy, resulting in 11 dead and many injured.

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Following the stampede, the KSCA was criticized, with an FIR (first information report) filed against its top office bearers, including President Raghuram Bhat, Secretary A Shankar, and Treasurer E.S. Jairam. However, in a petition filed in the Karnataka High Court, the KSCA clarified that their role was strictly limited to extending infrastructure and facilitating government permissions.
The actual event management and crowd control responsibilities, they revealed, were with the RCB franchise and its event partner, DNA Entertainment Networks. The letter submitted by the state association to the local government authorities verifies the same.
"On behalf of the M/s DNA Entertainment Networks Private Limited, KSCA requests to inform that after the TATA IPL 2025 Finals on 3rd June 2025, in case Royal Challengers Bengaluru wins the IPL 2025 title, M/s DNA Entertainment Networks Private Limited shall make plans for the felicitation ceremony at the Vidhana Soudha Grand Steps.
"KSCA requests that M/s DNA Entertainment Networks Private Limited shall be permitted to make necessary arrangements at the Vidhana Soudha Grand Steps. KSCA facilitates government permissions. The management of gates is the responsibility of RCB Franchise / DNA who execute under the direction of the police. The police have registered the FIR under intense pressure and compelling circumstances without any preliminary enquiry by naming the petitioner/members of KSCA as accused," the letter read.

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Despite the formal proceedings at the Vidhana Soudha being well-regulated, the other celebration outside the stadium lacked control. The cricketing body has since stated that it had no role in organising or managing crowd control outside the stadium. Following an urgent hearing, the Karnataka High Court has restrained the police from taking action against KSCA officials until the next hearing on June 16. The court has also asked the state government to file a detailed status report by June 10, having taken suo motu (at its own will) notice of the stampede.
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