Bengaluru Stampede: Karnataka Blames RCB and BCCI for Chaos, 11 Deaths
In a dramatic turn in the ongoing legal proceedings surrounding the tragic stampede at Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium, which claimed 11 lives, the Karnataka government has placed the blame squarely on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Appearing before the Karnataka High Court on Wednesday, the state’s Advocate General, Shashi Kiran Shetty, alleged that the event was held without proper permissions, with gross mismanagement and misleading public communication leading to deadly consequences.
The government’s submission came during the hearing of bail pleas filed by four individuals, including RCB’s marketing head Nikhil Sosale, who were arrested in connection with the incident. The case is being heard by a single bench led by Justice SR Krishna Kumar.
The Advocate General stated that RCB had failed to seek any formal permission from authorities for the event and instead launched a massive publicity drive online, effectively “inviting the whole world.” He pointed to several social media posts where RCB encouraged fans to attend the victory parade without providing clarity on entry protocols or capacity limitations. “They posted saying all supporters are invited to cheer,” Shetty said, emphasizing that these messages caused confusion and drew massive crowds far exceeding the stadium’s 33,000-person capacity. Authorities estimate that up to 4 lakh people turned up at the venue.
Adding to the state’s concerns, Shetty revealed that RCB only sent an intimation letter through the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) on June 3, just an hour before RCB’s final match. This was not a formal application for permission, he stressed, and did not meet the legal requirement of applying for licenses at least seven days prior to such a public event. “They weren’t seeking permission, they were just informing. That’s illegal,” he said.
The Advocate General also held the BCCI accountable, clarifying that there was a formal agreement between BCCI and RCB that made the franchise solely responsible for ticketing, gate management, and security. “They cannot escape liability under that agreement,” he said. The state further rejected claims that this was a government-organised function, stating firmly that it was a private RCB celebration.
The government’s argument goes beyond procedural violations. Shetty claimed that the organisers had no crowd control measures in place — no barricades, signage, or regulated entry protocols. “They just allowed such a large number of people to gather in one place without a clear plan. This failure led directly to the stampede and deaths,” he said. The absence of a comprehensive safety strategy, despite the organisers knowing the potential turnout, was cited as the root cause of the disaster.
In response to the defence’s argument that there was no vicarious liability under Indian law and that employees should not be arrested for an organisation’s faults, the court said the existence of a contractual agreement between RCB, KSCA, and event partner DNA was not in dispute, nor was their shared responsibility.
The Advocate General also raised serious allegations against RCB marketing head Nikhil Sosale, claiming that he tried to flee after the incident. “He booked a flight late at night and was caught at the airport the next morning. That’s not coincidental,” Shetty argued. He also accused the organisers of prioritising publicity over safety. “They were doing this for their own publicity. And when things went wrong, they tried to disappear,” he said.
Following the tragedy, the Karnataka government ordered both magisterial and judicial inquiries and handed over the investigation to the state’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID). Several police officers were also suspended and replaced. “We acted quickly and transparently. The investigation is being done according to procedure,” Shetty assured the court.
As the case progresses, the court will determine whether the arrests were legally justified. Meanwhile, public scrutiny continues to mount over how a celebration turned into one of the deadliest crowd disasters in the city’s history.
IT.
