As Karnataka reels from the Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede that killed 11, the state cricket body denies direct responsibility, seeking legal relief amid growing calls for accountability and a potential SIT probe.
The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has approached the Karnataka High Court to set aside the FIRs registered against its office-bearers in relation to the tragic stampede that occurred during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) IPL victory celebration on June 4 at Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. The ghastly accident took 11 lives and left over 50 others injured, shockwaves running through the state and the country. The KSCA, in a writ petition, has asked the court to quash the criminal cases filed against its president Raghu Ram Bhat, secretary A. Shankar, treasurer E. S. Jayaram, and other association members on the grounds of absence of direct responsibility and procedural errors in the registration of the FIRs.
The stampede took place when thousands of supporters amassed outside the stadium grounds, most without proper entry procedures or crowd management systems in effect. The event was co-organised by RCB, the Karnataka State Cricket Association, and event management company DNA Entertainment Networks. FIRs were lodged against all three organizations under sections pertaining to criminal negligence, endangerment of life, and culpable homicide not being of a murderous nature. Bengaluru police have already detained Nikhil Sosale, the head of marketing at RCB, and some of DNA Entertainment’s executives for mismanagement and not following safety protocols.
KSCA’s High Court plea maintains that the role played by the association was only providing venue support and that it had nothing to do with being the chief organizer and being in charge of crowd management and ticketing. The petitioners also allege that they were not provided with a chance to put forward their case before the FIRs were registered and that the consideration of the arrests can constitute harassment in the absence of a fair inquiry. The petition has attracted attention since it comes during the height of an investigation and heightened calls for accountability.
The Karnataka High Court on June 5 had already taken Suo moto cognizance of the case, sending a notice to the state government and asking for an elaborate response. The court also indicated that it was considering constituting a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to ensure that a fair probe is carried out. Apart from that, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, facing public and political backlash, suspended five top police officers, including Bengaluru’s Police Commissioner B. Dayananda, for their inability to control the crowd and provide security. The CM has instructed authorities to arrest people wherever negligence is established, adding that nobody—be it the police, the franchise, or the cricketing body—would go scot-free if found responsible.
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As the High Court considers the issue today, the case raises fundamental questions of institutional responsibility in public gatherings, particularly where very large crowds are involved. Was this tragedy caused by coordination failure, commercial excess, or systemic planning and security enforcement failure? The legal fight of KSCA has now become a central component of the developing battle for accountability, with the state attempting to balance legal recourse for the families of the victims on one hand and the procedural rights of the investigated parties on the other. The decision in this appeal could establish precedent for future management of mass public events in India.
