Case Filed Against RCB, Karnataka Cricket Body Over Bengaluru Stampede Deaths

The Bengaluru Police have filed a case on their own (suo moto) against RCB, the state cricket body, and DNA Entertainment over the stampede on Wednesday that killed 11 and left dozens injured. DNA Entertainment managed the RCB's IPL victory celebrations, while the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) organised the event, according to the state government.

The state cabinet met today and discussed whether the case should be handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). They also agreed to look at the sequence of events that led to the stampede, the roles of the KSCA, RCB franchise and event management company, and police personnel. Action would be taken against officials found responsible for lapses that led to the stampede.

The police case has been filed under five sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) including Section 105 which deals with culpable homicide.

Preliminary findings indicated that KSCA, DNA Networks, and RCB franchise went ahead with the event despite permission not being given. They did not provide proper facilities or manage the crowd entry, even after being warned by the police, according to the initial investigation. The RCB social media account repeatedly posted about free passes at the stadium gates, further encouraging fans to gather, it said.

The police had already deployed maximum available resources, which prevented an even greater tragedy, according to the findings.

Photo Credit: PTI

Apart from the first information report (FIR), the district magistrate G Jagadeesha, who was appointed by the Karnataka government to investigate the incident, today said notices will also be sent to the KSCA, the Bengaluru Metro, and the RCB franchise.

Mr Jagadeesha visited Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru today and inspected the gates where crowding had happened before the situation worsened into a stampede.

"I started working on it [investigation] from today itself," Mr Jagadeesha told reporters.

The report has to be submitted to the state government within 15 days.

The district magistrate said he will analyse CCTV footage and other visuals from the area at the time the incident happened, for which he will ask families of those who were killed and injured for their statements.

The general public can also give their statements between 10.30 am and 1.30 pm on June 13, the district magistrate said. A list of policemen who were deployed during the RCB's IPL victory celebration will be made and they will be asked to give their statements, he added.

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara today said it was not the state government that wanted to bring the players for the victory celebrations to Bengaluru.

"We did not make any request to the Royal Challengers Bengaluru franchise or the Karnataka State Cricket Association in this regard. They organised the victory celebration event," Mr Parameshwara told reporters. "The government also felt that it should felicitate the players and be a part of the celebration because it was a Bengaluru team. That's all."

The state home minister said the KSCA and the RCB brought the team to Bengaluru for celebrations.