'Lack of planning, no safety arrangements' - Karnataka government blames RCB, Virat Kohli for Bengaluru stampede

The Karnataka government, in its status report submitted to the High Court on Thursday, July 17, pointed to serious lapses and mismanagement by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) leading to stampede at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium during their victory celebrations after winning IPL 2025. The tragic incident claimed 11 lives and left more than 50 injured.

According to the report, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), on behalf of DNA Networks Pvt Ltd, submitted a letter of intimation to the Cubbon Park Police at around 6:30 PM, just hours before the IPL final between RCB and Punjab Kings (PBKS) took place in Ahmedabad.

"Should RCB emerge victorious in the tournament, the management of RCB/DNA Entertainment Networks Private Limited intends to plan potential victory parades around the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, culminating in victory celebrations at the stadium. This was in the nature of an intimation, not a requisition for permission as required under the law," the report said as quoted by The Telegraph.

The Bengaluru police denied permission for the event due to the lack of critical information, including the estimated crowd size, event logistics, and crowd control measures. The proposal was also submitted on short notice. Despite the denial, RCB went ahead with promoting the event, sharing invitations on social media, most notably a video appeal by Virat Kohli, encouraging fans to attend the free-entry celebration on June 4.

“Subsequently, on 04.06.2025, at 8:55 am, the RCB shared a video clip of Virat Kohli, a prominent player of the RCB team, on RCB's official handle @ Rcbtweets on X, in which he stated that the team intended to celebrate this victory with the people of Bengaluru city and RCB fans on 04.06.2025 in Bengaluru,” the report said.

The post was the first to mention that free passes were available online, but it was shared only after large crowds had already begun gathering. The video gained significant viewership, with figures reaching 16 lakh, 4.26 lakh, 7.6 lakh, and 17 lakh across different platforms.

"Therefore, including those who travelled on foot, used public transport, and private means on June 4, the estimated gathering would be well beyond three lakh individuals," the statement said.

The report also emphasised that the organisers failed to seek police permission in the prescribed format, as mandated by the Licensing and Controlling of Assemblies and Processions (Bangalore City) Order, 2009.

Meanwhile, BJP MLA and Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Aravind Bellad, accused the government of trying to take credit for RCB’s IPL victory after 18 years, but now shifting blame onto the franchise and Kohli following the stampede tragedy.

"It's not only RCB that invited people, a huge number of people came on the invitation of the Congress, DK Shivakumar and government officials, the DPAR secretary came on TV and invited people, the government is solely responsible for this," Bellad said.

"If the report says RCB is solely responsible, why did the government suspend police officers? The Chief Minister should apologise to the former police commissioner. If there was an intimation by RCB that they will hold the event, then the government should have refused permission. They had all the right to say this event cannot be held. Just to take credit for the victory, the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister invited people. To now put the blame on a great player like Virat Kohli or RCB is wrong," the BJP leader added.

The report also explained why the state government chose not to call off the victory parade following the stampede. It stated that abruptly halting the celebrations at the stadium could have triggered unrest and posed a threat to law and order across the city.

"could potentially incite violence among the gathered crowd and adversely affect overall law and order across the city...a measured response was taken by curtailing the duration of the function. Instead of complete termination, a measured approach was adopted by allowing the event to proceed with significantly curtailed duration and enhanced monitoring," the report said.

The report concluded that RCB, DNA Networks, and the KSCA ignored standard procedures and safety protocols, resulting in violations that posed serious public safety risks. In response to the incident, the Karnataka government suspended senior police officials at Cubbon Park Police Station on June 5 and established a one-man commission, headed by a retired High Court judge, to investigate the tragedy.