RCB IPL Team Company Moves Karnataka High Court To Quash FIR Over Bengaluru Stampede Deaths During Victory Celebrations

Royal Challengers Sports Private Limited (RCSPL) and its Chief Operating Officer Rajesh V Menon which manages Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) IPL team, have approached the Karnataka High Court to quash an FIR's registered against them following the Bengaluru stampede ahead of an event to celebrate RCB's 2025 IPL victory.

In its petition it is said that after "extensive discussions" held between officials of DNA Networks, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) officials, and the police, and the oral confirmation received by RCSPL, RCSPL made an announcement of the proposed victory parade and trophy celebration on the social media handles of RCB on June 4. 

Moreover, the social media posts of RCB "made it clear" that entry into the stadium was against registration on the official website and issuance of passes, which was bearing in mind the seating capacity of the stadium.

Further it is claimed that in the morning of June 4, RCB officials were "orally informed that permission for a victory parade was being withdrawn by the police".

Around the same time, RCB officials were also made aware of the fact that the Chief Minister of Karnataka and the Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka "were planning to felicitate" the victorious RCB at the Vidhana Soudha.

Accordingly, the RCB team was invited to the Vidhana Soudha for the felicitation. The RCB Officials were also informed that from the Vidhana Soudha, after the felicitation program, the RCB team could proceed to the stadium for the celebrations, the plea states. 

The plea states that not only were the RCB players and staff invited to the Vidhana Soudha for the felicitation, the entire public was also invited by the Chief Minister. The plea points to a print out of the tweet published by the Chief Minister inviting all citizens to "join in the celebration of this historic victory". 

The plea states that after the event at Vidhan Soudha the team proceeded to the stadium; there during the "celebration" RCSPL management was informed of some confirmed fatalities that occurred outside the stadium in the stampede and immediately upon hearing of this tragic circumstance the celebrations at the stadium were concluded hastily. 

Seeking to quash the FIR the plea states that the F. I. R. and the proceedings against the Petitioners are illegal, contrary to law, and an abuse of process of law. The absence of any positive "act" on the part of the Petitioners is telling. It claims that the FIR and material on record do not disclose commission of offence of Section 105 BNS- culpable homicide not amounting to murder. 

It states that the only "act" stated to have been committed by RCSPL is that the "invitation to the public to participate in the celebration". This per se, the plea claims, cannot, by any stretch of the imagination, be considered a criminal act.

Indeed, the very same act of inviting the public to a celebration was committed by the Chief Minister of Karnataka, who in much the same way as RCSPL, invited fans on social media. Moreover, element of men's rea is absent, it adds. 

It is also claimed that the prosecution and entire proceedings against the Petitioners appear to be motivated by an intent to shift the blame for the unfortunate tragedy on to private entities and individuals associated with them, such as the second petitioner. This is particularly evident in the context of the public pronouncements made by the Chief Minister directing the "immediate arrest" of RCB executives, despite an ongoing official inquiry into the incident and suspension of police officials for dereliction of duty, it states. 

Further it is said “The FIR itself, while recognising the fact that the entire organization of the event was outsourced to DNA Networks, still arrays RCB as an accused in respect of the crimes.”

Accordingly it seeks to quash the FIR and by way of interim relief seeks to stay all further proceedings against the petitioners.

Last week, the High Court had granted interim protection to the officials of the Karnataka State Cricket Association. Marketing and Revenue Head of the Royal Challengers Banglore (RCB), Nikhil Sosale has also approached the Karnataka High Court challenging his arrest in the case.