DNA Entertainment Ltd Moves Karnataka High Court For Quashing Of FIRs Over Chinnaswamy Stadium Stampede

A petition has been filed in the Karnataka High Court by M/s DNA Entertainement Networks Private Limited, seeking to quash the three FIR's registered against it following the stampede that took place near the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru ahead of the victory celebration of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025.

DNA Networks were implicated in the case due to their role as the organisers of the trophy parade event at the Chinnaswamy stadium.

The plea states that on 04.06.2025, due to the overwhelming crowds in excess of 3,00,000 people and due to the initial lack of police deployment outside the stadium and later, the lathi charge done by the police, unfortunately, a stampede occurred outside the gates of the stadium on the public roads and footpaths.

It is alleged that due to the fact that the crowds were not managed properly by the Police and the State authorities, those who were trying to get into the stadium suffered injuries in the stampede and 11 of them died.

It was said that “The said devastating incident occurred due to the fact that the Police did not provide sufficient personnel commensurate with the size of the crowd that suddenly gathered from all across Karnataka as well as from different parts of the country. In fact, the majority of the police force was concentrated at the Vidhana Soudha, leaving the stadium to the mercy of the huge crowds which had gathered outside the stadium.”

It is claimed that the Cubbon Park police inspector who was himself responsible for managing the crowds outside the stadium since the same was within the boundaries of his territorial jurisdiction, in order to escape his own defaults and after coming to know that the State Government would take action against the Police for dereliction of duty, seems to have lodged a suo moto Complaint.

Further it is said that on the same alleged cause of action, entirely contrary to Law, two more complaints seem to have been lodged arraying the petitioner as an accused within a few hours on the same day. The allegations in both FIR Nos. 2 and 3 pertain to alleged incidents that took place outside the stadium without any overt or specific act alleged against the Petitioner or any of its representatives, employees, etc.

It is submitted that two of the company's officials have been arrested by the police, in the wee hours on 06.06.2025, acting under the direct instructions of the State Government, contrary to the settled position of Law regarding political influence, without carrying out any preliminary investigation to establish whether arrest was necessary.

Seeking to quash it is claimed that FIR's are falsely implicating the company, in order to protect their (police) position and are trying to arrest all and sundry who are not named in the impugned FIR's.

Finally it is claimed that on a reading of the complaint it is evident that there are no lapses from the petitioner Company. The fact that the impugned FIRs have been registered in a lax manner and in a hurry based on political pressure and to avoid the impending disciplinary action against the police, is clear from a reading of the impugned FIRs.

Thus it has sought to quash the FIR's and by way of interim relief seek to stay the FIR and all the proceedings intiated following it.