The Karnataka High Court has granted interim relief to the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) in the Bengaluru stadium stampede case, barring the police from taking any coercive action against the cricket body’s management for now.
Background of the Case:
The tragedy occurred on June 4, during a felicitation ceremony for RCB (IPL 18 champions) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. A crowd of 2 to 3 lakh people had gathered, overwhelming the venue’s capacity and leading to a stampede that killed 11 people and injured 56 others. The event was organized by the Karnataka government, RCB, and DNA Entertainment Private Limited, with the stadium space being provided by KSCA.
Legal Developments:
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FIR Filed: The city police registered a case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, accusing KSCA, RCB, and DNA Entertainment of criminal negligence.
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Petition Filed: KSCA officials—President Raghuram Bhat, Secretary A Shankar, and Treasurer ES Jairam—challenged the FIR, claiming they were wrongly implicated.
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Court's Interim Order:
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Justice SR Krishna Kumar ruled that no coercive action (such as arrest) be taken against the KSCA officials until the next hearing on June 16, provided they cooperate fully with the investigation.
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The court also barred them from leaving the court’s jurisdiction without permission.
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Arguments Presented:
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KSCA’s Defense:
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Argued that their naming in the FIR was a “kneejerk reaction” under public and media pressure.
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Claimed no involvement in organizing or managing the event, which was state-sponsored and held outside the stadium before moving to Chinnaswamy.
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Highlighted that they had even offered independent compensation to victims' families, despite not being liable.
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State’s Stand:
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Advocate General Shashi Kiran assured the court that while the investigation will proceed, no arrests would be made immediately.
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He clarified that an RCB marketing head was arrested at the airport while allegedly trying to flee to Dubai.
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Petitioners’ Counsel: Pointed out that even Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had publicly stated that arrests would be made, including KSCA representatives.
Blame Game:
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The KSCA has officially distanced itself from the event, stating:
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They only rent out the stadium and are not involved in non-cricket activities or gate/crowd management.
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The felicitation was organized at the Vidhana Soudha, with later portions near the stadium being government-led.
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Meanwhile, the state government, RCB, and event managers have been pointing fingers at each other, with a CID investigation currently underway.
Next Steps:
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The High Court has adjourned the hearing on KSCA's plea to quash the FIR to June 16.
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All accused are currently under scrutiny, but with the court’s protection, KSCA officials are shielded from arrest, at least temporarily.
This case reflects growing concerns over accountability in mass event management, especially when multiple entities—from government to private organizations—are involved.
