Bangalore Stampede: Royal Challengers Bangalore Held Responsible for Tragic Accident, Court Points to Their Mistake

Following Royal Challengers Bangalore’s IPL 2025 victory celebration on June 4, a devastating stampede occurred outside Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore, resulting in the deaths of 11 people and injuries to many others. The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has now, at first glance, held RCB responsible for the tragedy.

What Did the Court Say?

• The CAT criticized RCB for announcing the victory celebration without obtaining police permission, which led to an uncontrolled gathering of approximately 3 to 5 lakh people.

• The tribunal remarked that police cannot prepare adequate arrangements with just 12 hours' notice and emphasized that RCB’s sudden announcement on social media caused the massive crowd.

• The tribunal canceled the suspension order against senior IPS officer Vikas Kumar Vikas, implicitly suggesting that the police were not solely at fault.

• According to the tribunal, RCB’s carelessness and failure to coordinate with law enforcement was a key factor in the tragedy.

Government and Legal Reactions

• This tribunal decision is a blow to the Karnataka government, which initially blamed police intelligence failure for the incident.

• Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah criticized the intelligence apparatus for its role.

• A criminal case has been filed against RCB officials, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), and event management company DNA Entertainment.

• Several event managers were arrested but later granted interim bail.

• The Karnataka High Court is actively hearing the case, with the next hearing set for July 1, 2025.

Summary

The tragedy has revealed serious lapses in event management and crowd control. While the government initially sought to place blame on police agencies, the tribunal’s findings highlight Royal Challengers Bangalore’s responsibility for organizing a celebration without proper permissions, leading to the catastrophic stampede.