Karnataka High Court Takes Suo Motu Cognizance Of Bengaluru Stampede During Celebrations Of RCB's 2025 IPL Victory

The Karnataka High Court on Thursday (June 5) took suo motu cognizance of the Bengaluru stampede that occurred on Wednesday outside the Chinnaswamy stadium ahead of an event to celebrate Royal Challenger Bangalore's (RCB) victory at the 2025 IPL Final. 

In doing so the court issued notice to the Karnataka Government to ascertain cause of the tragedy and how to prevent it in future. 

Reportedly 11 people lost their lives in the stampede while over 30 people are stated to have suffered injuries. RCB won the 2025 IPL Final defeating Punjab Kings on June 3, winning the coveted trophy for the first time, since the inception of the IPL in 2008.

The matter was mentioned before a division bench of Acting Chief Justice V Kameshwar Rao and Justice C M Joshi which had permitted listing of the matter today at 2:30pm.

After hearing the matter for some time the bench remarked:

"We will take suo motu cognizance. We are asking for further status report". 

It thereafter in its order dictated, "News items have been published in various newspapers including TOI, narrating of the tragedy happening, when 11 persons died and 75 injured during the course of victory celebration of RCB. This court taking cognizance of the incident. To ascertain to cause of tragedy and how to prevent it in future, also we have received communications from several person on this subject matter. We issue notice to State government...Registry is directed to register this suo-mot cognizance as suo moto WP. Relist on Tuesday". 

Court asks about presence of SOP 

When the matter was taken up in the afternoon, Advocate General Shashi Kiran Shetty appearing for the State submitted, "My request to other side is that it is a PIL and it is not adversarial and there should be no mudslinging".

Shetty gave details about the incident and police deployed during the event. He said that that the Police Commissioner and other senior police officers, including 1318 and total 1483 officials were present on the ground. He said that over 2.5 lakhs people were gathered near the Chinnaswamy stadium. 

"11 dead and injured received treatments at hospitals. As of today 6 injured are in hospitals and they would be discharged mostly by today, milords. Details of victims are provide, 5 are women and 6 men. People came from Dakshina Kannada, Kolar, Yadgir, Tumkur," the advocate general said. 

The bench at this stage questioned the Advocate General and asked, "Suppose if anything happens of this nature in future, do you have any SOP?" However the Advocate General said that this was "futuristic". 

The bench further remarked:

"Are there any vehicles, which can be made available if such incident happens, which hospitals will the injured be taken? All this is to be included in SOP".

To this the Shetty said that the state government has taken the incident seriously and it will prepare an SOP.

The bench thereafter asked if "ambulances in place when the incident happened?". Shetty responded that though ambulances were deployed however the number was not sufficient. 

Shetty submitted that 2.5 Lakh people came because it was published that there was is free entry. The bench asked if the casualties happened at the stadium to which Shetty said that it happened the entry of the gate.

The bench thereafter asked that when IPL matches happen what system is in place. Shetty submitted that event managements is done by RCB and the security is also taken care of by them.

The bench thereafter asked, "Did they approach for permissions?"

The advocate general meanwhile said, "There was huge crowd, people not only came from Bengaluru but from around the state and even from outside of the state". He further submitted that a magisterial Inquiry has already commenced and within 15 days the report will be placed on record. He further submitted details of Chinnaswamy stadium's gates where the deaths took place. He said that 66 injured were also found from this location.

Meanwhile the counsel for the petitioner submitted that it was an act of "criminal negligence" and that the State was "completely masking it".

State not hiding anything, inquiry has begun

On the court's query regarding the number of gates the advocate general submitted, "Total 21 and instructions are they were open and people were allowed inside and seated. 2 lakh people were around this place. We have started inquiry and notices have been given to everyone and even FIR is filed we are not sparing anyone".

The advocate general further said:

"We are concerned about it as much as anyone else. First Statement given by CM was about compensation to be given, medical treatment to be provided. We have been working since last night milords. We are open to any suggestions". 

Shetty further read the press release issued by inquiry officer giving details of the process of inquiry and said, "We will video record everything and place it before lordships. There is no question of hiding".

Incident was due to criminal negligence

At this stage the counsel for the petitioner argued:

"The state has to clarify as to who has taken decision to felicitate the RCB players. What is the obligation to felicitate players who are not playing for the country. What are the steps or safety measures to control public.It is a criminal negligence. Only 3 gates were opened of the stadium, without there being capacity to accommodate so many people"

Meanwhile senior advocate Arun Shyam submits that two events took place at Vidhana Souda and the stadium, and said that the State must give details of where the ambulances were deployed. 

"Similar line of action be taken as was done in Chamarajanagar incident case which occurred during COVID19," Shyam added. 

Meanwhile a PIL also has been moved by one Lohith G Hanumapura seeking a direction directing an independent judicial inquiry under the supervision of a retired High Court Judge into the incident. The PIL further seeks direction to the state government and Karnataka State Cricket Association to submit detailed reports regarding the approvals, safety measures, and crowd control plans for both events. It also seeks action against any officers, organizers, or private entities found guilty of negligence or violation of law.

Meanwhile Chief Minister Siddaramaiah took to X to state that Karnataka Government has ordered a Magisterial Inquiry into the incident. 

"The Deputy Commissioner of Bengaluru Urban District has been appointed as the Inquiry Officer. The report will be submitted within 15 days, based on which appropriate action will be taken," the post reads. 

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