The FIR cites criminal negligence in planning the 4 June event, which left 11 dead and dozens injured, noting police had denied permission due to expected crowd and safety concerns
Published Jun 05, 2025 | 8:11 PM ⚊ Updated Jun 05, 2025 | 8:11 PM
FIR filed against RCB, KSCA, and DNA entertainment over fatal stampede (@RCBTweets on X)
Synopsis: Bengaluru Police have filed an FIR against RCB, KSCA, and DNA Entertainment for criminal negligence after a stampede at the 4 June IPL victory celebration killed 11 and injured dozens. Authorities say organisers ignored police warnings and held the event without permission, triggering chaos as lakhs of fans gathered at Chinnaswamy Stadium following misleading announcements about free passes
In the wake of a tragic stampede during Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) IPL victory celebration at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, the Bengaluru Police have filed a FIR against the RCB franchise, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), and event management company DNA Entertainment Networks, among others.
The FIR alleges criminal negligence in the planning and execution of the 4 June event, which led to the deaths of 11 people and injuries to dozens more.
According to the FIR filed by a Police Inspector from the Cubbon Park Police Station, the police had explicitly denied permission for the celebration due to anticipated crowd control and safety issues.
Despite this, organisers proceeded with the event, triggering chaotic scenes outside the stadium that turned deadly.
RCB’s maiden Indian Premier League title victory on 3 June in Ahmedabad sparked city-wide celebrations across Bengaluru.
Following the win, thousands of enthusiastic fans spontaneously gathered near key areas like M.G. Road, UB City, and the Vitthal Mallya Road area around midnight, prompting a full-scale deployment of Cubbon Park police personnel to maintain order until 5:30 am on 4 June.
According to the FIR, on the evening of 3 June, KSCA CEO Shubhendu Ghop submitted a request to the police seeking security arrangements for a formal victory celebration scheduled at the Chinnaswamy Stadium the following day.
The Police Inspector objected, citing the need for adequate preparation and warning of potential law-and-order issues if large crowds were allowed to gather on short notice. Permission was denied.
However, RCB, KSCA, and DNA Entertainment insisted on conducting the event on 4 June as planned. Without official clearance, RCB proceeded to announce the celebration and a parade via their official Twitter handle and other social media platforms, claiming free passes would be distributed at the stadium gates.
These posts were widely circulated, drawing tens of thousands of fans to the stadium.
The FIR alleges, recognising the rapidly growing crowd and the viral promotion of the event, police scrambled into action. By 9:00 am on 4 June, a detailed security plan was submitted to the Police Commissioner and approved.
Personnel from all police divisions across Bengaluru were mobilised for crowd control.
Separate arrangements were made for a government-organized felicitation ceremony for the RCB team at Vidhana Soudha, which was to take place before the stadium event.
The security meeting chaired by the Police Commissioner included senior officers from multiple departments, including the ACP City Special Branch and ACP VIP Security.
Additional units of the Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) and traffic police were brought in to ensure smooth movement of people and vehicles. A press release was issued detailing traffic restrictions around the stadium and Vidhana Soudha.
Despite these efforts, the sheer volume of people posed overwhelming challenges. Police were stationed at HAL Airport to monitor the RCB team’s arrival, their travel route to the Taj West End Hotel, and later their journey to Vidhana Soudha for the government’s felicitation event, which went ahead smoothly.
By 3:00 pm, lakhs of fans had converged near the Chinnaswamy Stadium, far exceeding the venue’s capacity of 30,000 to 35,000.
The FIR states that responsibility for managing the entry and distribution of passes lay with the RCB franchise, KSCA, and DNA Entertainment.
However, no proper system was put in place, and key decisions were either delayed or ignored.
At around 3:10 pm, in an effort to alleviate pressure from swelling crowds, security personnel opened gates at several entry points.
This decision led to a massive push of people trying to enter simultaneously, resulting in a stampede. Many fans were trampled at the gates, with both private security and police struggling to contain the panic.
Victims were pulled from the crowd and rushed to nearby hospitals by onlookers and officers alike.
A total of 11 people died of suffocation in the stampede at gates 15, 17, 18, 20 and 21, and a total of 64 people were treated for injuries. Several police officers and staff were also injured.
Despite the disaster, the celebration inside the stadium went ahead around 5:45 pm. Special arrangements were made for the players and VIPs to ensure their safety, even as police outside continued dispersing fans and securing the area.
Police blame the stampede on misleading social media promotions and lack of coordination by the event organisers. The FIR accuses RCB, KSCA, and DNA Entertainment of failing to provide timely and accurate information to both fans and law enforcement agencies.
It notes that the chaos could have been avoided had the organisers respected the initial denial of permission and adhered to basic safety protocols. Authorities have confirmed that a detailed investigation is underway, and appropriate legal action will be taken against those found responsible.
Meanwhile, public outrage continues to mount as the city mourns the loss of innocent lives in what was meant to be a historic and joyous occasion.
(Edited by Ananya Rao with inputs from Nolan Patrick Pinto)
