IPL Team Royal Challengers Bengaluru Moves Karnataka High Court Against CAT Order Blaming It For Chinnaswamy Stampede

IPL cricket team Royal Challengers Bengaluru has approached the Karnataka High Court against an order of the Central Administrative Tribunal blaming the Team for the stampede near Chinnaswamy stadium, which claimed 11 lives.

The mishap occurred ahead of the Team's announcement for celebrating its 2025 victory in IPL at the Chinnaswamy stadium.

As per CAT, the announcement was "sudden", giving no time to the Police to prepare for the crowd of three to five lakh people.

"Prima facie it appears that the RCB is responsible..." the service law tribunal had said in its order while reinstating the Police official accused of negligence in the matter.

"The RCB did not take the appropriate permission or consent from the Police. Suddenly, they posted on social media platforms and as a result of aforesaid information the public were gathered...Suddenly, the RCB created the aforesaid type of nuisance without any prior permission," CAT had said.

RCB claims that CAT did not adhere to the principles of natural justice inasmuch as it made observations against the Team without even giving it an opportunity to be heard in the proceedings.

“Despite not being a party to the proceedings, the Impugned Order proceeds to wrongly make several prejudicial observations against the Petitioner, including as to its alleged role in the unfortunate incident on 04.06.2025, which culminated in a stampede around /in the vicinity of the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru,” the plea states.

It has also pointed that a fact-finding inquiry with regard to the incident is being conducted by the Bengaluru DM and Deputy Commissioner. Yet, CAT has proceeded to hold the Team responsible. "When the findings of fact are still awaited and there is no conclusive finding rendered by any body as to the purported role of the Petitioner in the said incident, the consideration of these disputed facts by the Hon'ble Central Administrative Tribunal, is premature," the plea states.

So far as seeking Police permission for the victory celebration is concerned, RCB states that as per its agreement with service provider M/s DNA Networks and Karnataka State Cricket Association, it was these entities that were responsible to obtain the necessary permissions and ensure compliance with applicable law. 

The plea thus seeks to expunge the remarks made against RCB.