Karnataka High Court Issues Notice To KSCA, RCB & DNA In Suo-Motu Case Over Chinnaswamy Stadium Stampede

The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday directed the registry to implead Karnataka State Cricket Association, Royal Challengers Sports Private Limited (RCSPL)–which manages RCB IPL team and event management firm DNA Entertainment Ltd, as respondents and issue notice to them in the suo-motu petition initiated regarding the Bengaluru stampede which occurred outside Chinnaswamy stadium, ahead of an event to celebrate Royal Challenger Bangalore's (RCB) victory at the 2025 IPL final.

Acting Chief Justice V M Kameshwar Rao and Justice C M Joshi said “We have perused the status report of state govt, we are of the view that KSCA, RCB and DNA be made party respondents to these proceedings and notice be issued.Registry shall serve the notice on the added respondents. Notice be served on or before Friday. We will call it (relist matter) on Monday for their appearance.”

The court also indicated that it would appoint an amicus curiae to assist the court in the proceedings.

During the hearing the court queried with the state government why it should be permitted to file status reports in a sealed cover. Advocate General Shashi Kiran Shetty submitted that we are not shying away from anything. Let the inquiry committee reports come, milords.

He added “We have made certain statements (in the status report) which will flash out in TV and news, there should not be any prejudice. State having made certain statements, it should not...We are going to place the facts as it progresses.”

A counsel for the intervenors said “Transparency and accountability in such cases is important and documents should not be in sealed cover.”

Adv G R Mohan appearing for another intervenor argued that “All three investigations (police, magisterial inquiry and one member judicial commission) are going on parallelly, still no report is placed before the court. Nobody knows how many people gathered outside the stadium. There was an intelligence failure on part of the state government.” While another counsel submitted that complete transparency and accountability should be there for this court to answer the three questions raised. The documents should not be in sealed cover.

Senior Advocate S S Naganand appearing for another applicant submitted that “It is difficult for us to understand why the government is shy before the court. This cat and mouse game will be of no help. For argument if they make a false statement to the court we will not know about it. Only for that reason I say it should be disclosed.”

After hearing them briefly the court said “We will hear all and also have an amicus curiae in place to assist. We will issue notice to the three entities. We will not say anything on the intervention applications.” It directed that the status report be kept in sealed cover.

In the suo-motu proceedings the court has raised three questions to ascertain the reasons which led to the tragedy, whether the tragedy could have been prevented and what remedial measures need to be taken to prevent such tragedies 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.

Case No: WP 16530/2025