In a damning report submitted to the Karnataka High Court, the state government has placed significant blame on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and the event organisers for the tragic stampede that occurred outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4. The stampede claimed the lives of 11 cricket fans and left several others injured as thousands gathered to celebrate RCB’s IPL 2025 victory. The report points out that DNA Entertainment Networks, which organized the victory parade, failed to obtain formal police permission for the event and simply “informed” the authorities a day prior — a violation of the city’s 2009 public safety order.
What made matters worse, according to the government’s findings, was a widely circulated video posted by Virat Kohli urging fans to attend the event, despite the police having denied official clearance. The video, which promoted the gathering as a “free entry” celebration, is believed to have contributed to the massive turnout. On the day of the event, confusion erupted when organizers suddenly announced that passes were required for entry into the stadium. This last-minute policy shift caused panic among thousands of fans already crowding the streets, leading to chaos at the venue’s entry points. The report also highlighted poor crowd control, delays in gate operations, and a lack of coordination between RCB, DNA Entertainment, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA).
In the aftermath of the tragedy, the Karnataka government has launched multiple inquiries — both magisterial and judicial — and taken disciplinary actions. FIRs have been registered, the political secretary to the Chief Minister has been suspended, and the state intelligence chief has been transferred. Seven police personnel were also injured in the incident. The government has promised compensation for the victims’ families and emphasized the need for stricter regulations for public events. The high-profile nature of the incident has triggered nationwide debate on celebrity influence, crowd management failures, and accountability in organizing large-scale celebrations.
