Bengaluru Stampede: State Submits Judicial Inquiry Report To Karnataka High Court In Sealed Cover

The Karnataka Government on Thursday submitted to the High Court copies of the report prepared by the one member judicial inquiry commission, with regard to the Bengaluru Stampede which happened in May this year.

Advocate General Shashi Kiran Shetty submitted copies of the original report in two volumes and also a gist of the report in a sealed cover.

The development comes in a petition preferred by event management firm M/s DNA Entertainment Network Private Limited seeking quashing of retired Justice John Michael Cunha's report.

Earlier this week, the Court had permitted the State government to place the report under sealed cover.

A division bench of Justice Jayant Banerji and Justice Umesh M Adiga in its order today said, “Pursuant to the order of this court, AG has submitted a report of one man inquiry committee. Along with evidence/Statements of witness, it is in two sets. The AG has also submitted brief notes pertaining to the report which he states he would like to elaborate on when the matter is heard. Counsel for petitioner seeks adjournment to complete his instructions that would enable the court to consider the report placed before it today. Accordingly, relist this matter on Aug 11, 2025.”

During the hearing earlier, senior advocate B K Sampath appearing for the petitioner firm had submitted that the procedure envisaged with respect to the inquiry was not followed.

Pointing to the terms of reference of the commission Sampath had submitted, "Terms of reference nowhere gives power to the Commission to say that such and such action be taken against a certain person or may recommend. It was only to ascertain what were the lapses and who was responsible".

He referred to Section 8 (B) of the Commission of Inquiry Act and submitted, "Before I am hanged I should be heard", adding that as per media reports which carried the commission's report "prejudicial action is recommended against half a dozen persons".

The State government has questioned the maintainability of the petition. Advocate General Shetty had said, "This petition is an abuse of process of law.The petition is premature because, prayer is to quash the report which is not before lordships. They (petitioner) filed an application on July 22, seeking certain documents and next day they filed the petition, they did not wait for even 24 hours for us to give the reply. Based on paper publication the petition has been filed. The report is for our purpose".

The court however had said that the petitioner's only grievance was that under Section 8B Commission of Inquiry Act it was not given a chance for cross examination.

Case Title: M/s DNA Entertainment Networks Private Limited AND State of Karnataka

Case No: WP 22323/2025