Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) President Raghu Ram Bhat, along with several other office bearers, has approached the Karnataka High Court seeking to quash the FIR filed against them following the tragic stampede at Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) IPL victory celebrations. The stampede on June 4, 2025, claimed 11 lives and injured over 50 people as overwhelming crowds surged outside the stadium, surpassing security and event management capacity.
The FIR, which also names RCB and event management firm DNA Entertainment Pvt Ltd, accuses the organisers of criminal negligence for failing to provide clear information about passes and free entry, causing confusion among thousands of fans and resulting in chaos at multiple stadium gates. The police report states that organisers were warned about the risks of hosting such a large-scale event and advised to ensure adequate security, but these warnings were not properly heeded.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has demanded the immediate arrest of representatives from RCB, DNA Entertainment, and KSCA, condemning their “irresponsibility” and “carelessness.” Four officials from RCB and DNA Entertainment have already been detained, and the case is now under investigation by the Crime Investigation Department (CID).
The High Court has also taken suo motu cognisance, questioning whether proper Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and crowd management guidelines were followed. Meanwhile, the state government has suspended several senior police officials, including the Bengaluru Police Commissioner, citing failures in crowd control and inadequate response to organisers’ warnings. The investigation continues as the High Court reviews the pleas filed by KSCA officials seeking protection from prosecution.