The Karnataka High Court has directed the State police to not take any coercive action against the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) officials in the stampede incident that occurred outside Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. The incident happened ahead of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) IPL 2025 victory celebration.
Justice S R Krishna Kumar passed an interim order stating that, till the next date of hearing, no precipitative steps should be taken against the KSCA representatives, provided they extend full cooperation with the investigation.
Read Also:-RCB Official Nikhil Sosale Moves Karnataka High Court Against Arrest in Bengaluru Stampede Case
By way of an interim arrangement, the registry is directed to relist on June 16. Without prejudice, respondents are directed to not take any precipitative action against P2, P3, and P4 subject to the condition that the petitioner cooperates with the investigation/inquiry, the court observed.
During the hearing, Advocate General Shashi Kiran Shetty objected to the court’s move to stay the investigation. He underlined the seriousness of the case by referring to the 11 reported deaths and multiple injuries resulting from the stampede.
"Let the investigation go on. Arrest is only if required. Keeping in mind the nature of the offence, milord—11 deaths and number of injuries—this is serious in nature. Let the proceedings be deferred by one week, milords. Maybe they can file anticipatory bail," the Advocate General submitted.
Responding to the concern raised by Senior Advocate Ashok Haranahalli—who appeared for KSCA—that the Chief Minister had made a statement suggesting arrests, the court clarified that the CM had not named any individual and had only spoken about holding the responsible parties accountable.
The petition clarified that KSCA is the official governing body for cricket in Karnataka and is affiliated with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). KSCA manages the Chinnaswamy Stadium but plays only a limited role in IPL events. It was highlighted that RCB, through its service provider M/s DNA Networks Pvt. Ltd., independently conducts IPL matches including the management of tickets and crowd control.
Read Also:-KSCA Moves Karnataka High Court to Quash FIR in Chinnaswamy Stadium Stampede Case
According to the petition, KSCA only extends the venue and infrastructure for the event, has no involvement in ticketing or entry management, and merely facilitates government permissions. The entire ticketing process and revenue collection are handled by RCB.
The petition also referred to a letter dated June 3, 2025, which was sent by KSCA to various police authorities, requesting security support for the event. Furthermore, the KSCA has reportedly announced compensation of ₹5 lakh to each family of the deceased.
In light of the incident, the State Government has taken steps by ordering a magisterial inquiry, suspending certain police officials, and forming a special committee headed by a retired High Court judge to look into the matter.
"The FIR particularly naming the Petitioners along with RCB and DNA, is to keep someone in particular on the seat of guilt so that those objections and hate of the public against all the Government heads/several ministers who are being accused of being responsible for the catastrophe be diverted they escape the wrath," the petition stated.
It further claimed that gate management and crowd control were exclusively handled by RCB’s franchise and DNA Network under police supervision. The petitioners argued that KSCA’s office bearers cannot be held accountable for an incident they had no control over.
The FIR, they allege, was registered under external pressure and without conducting any preliminary inquiry, wrongfully naming KSCA members as accused.
According to the plea, the stampede was an accident resulting from a sudden rush and had no element of intent or neglect attributable to KSCA. The petitioners reiterated that responsibility for gate and crowd management did not lie with KSCA.
As interim relief, the petitioners have requested the court to stay the FIR dated June 5, 2025, and all proceedings stemming from it.
The matter is scheduled to be heard again on June 16, 2025.
