On June 11, 2025, the Karnataka government blamed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Karnataka High Court for a deadly stampede during RCB’s IPL 2025 victory parade, which killed 11 people. The incident, occurring outside Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4, 2025, prompted legal action due to alleged negligence. The state’s accusations, presented during a bail hearing, highlight RCB’s failure to secure proper permissions and BCCI’s oversight responsibility.

The Stampede and Its Fallout

RCB’s historic IPL win against Punjab Kings on June 3, 2025, led to a victory parade that turned tragic due to overcrowding and poor crowd management. The Karnataka government told the court that RCB “invited the whole world” via social media posts to its 28 lakh followers, without formal permission, submitting only a last-minute intimation letter through the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) on June 3. Advocate General Shashi Kiran Shetty accused RCB of misleading the court by portraying the event as government-sanctioned, clarifying it was a private RCB affair. A tri-partite agreement between RCB, BCCI, and KSCA was presented, implicating BCCI’s involvement.

Legal and Administrative Actions

An FIR was filed against RCB, event organizer DNA Entertainment, and KSCA for criminal negligence, leading to the arrest of RCB’s marketing head, Nikhil Sosale, who allegedly attempted to flee post-incident. Two KSCA officials, Secretary A Shankar and Treasurer ES Jairam, resigned, taking moral responsibility. RCB petitioned the Karnataka High Court to quash the FIR, arguing it was falsely implicated, while DNA Entertainment claimed police lapses caused the stampede. The court, presided over by Justice SR Krishna Kumar, is reviewing these petitions, with a hearing scheduled for June 12, 2025.

BCCI’s Stance and Public Outcry

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia called the incident “unfortunate” but emphasized it was RCB’s private event. However, he acknowledged BCCI’s broader responsibility, stating, “We cannot be a silent spectator,” and hinted at future guidelines to prevent such tragedies. Social media speculation about RCB facing a 2026 IPL ban remains unconfirmed, pending the investigation’s outcome. The Karnataka government announced Rs 25 lakh compensation for victims’ families, while RCB offered Rs 10 lakh.

-By Manoj H