A few months after the horrifying stampede that killed 11 people and injured over 50 near Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium, the Karnataka government’s inquiry report has placed the blame squarely on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for severe lapses in planning and legal compliance.
The incident occurred on June 4, 2025, during RCB’s IPL victory celebrations, when a massive, uncontrolled crowd surged toward the stadium following social media announcements made by the franchise. The crowd size exceeded 3 lakh, while the stadium’s capacity was only around 35,000.
Although the government initially requested that the findings be kept confidential, the Karnataka High Court ordered its release, stating that there was “no legal justification” for withholding the report.
According to details reported by NDTV, RCB did not secure mandatory permissions for the parade. While the team had informed police on June 3, a day after winning the IPL, this was only an intimation, not a formal application. The report observed, “This was in the nature of an intimation, not a requisition for permission as required under the law.” It further noted that no formal request, expected to be submitted at least seven days in advance, had been filed by the organisers.
Despite the absence of police permission, RCB went ahead with multiple posts on social media, inviting fans to a free parade from Vidhana Soudha to the stadium. On the morning of June 4, RCB’s official handle shared a video of Virat Kohli encouraging fans to join the celebrations. These posts reportedly reached 44 lakh users, fueling a turnout that city officials were unprepared for.
The report highlights that the lack of clarity around entry passes created mass confusion. RCB only mentioned limited-entry passes hours after fans had already arrived, leading to panic, frustration, and chaos. People forced their way through gates 1, 2, and 21, causing stampedes across multiple entry points.
The document also says that the event wasn't canceled despite the crisis, as authorities feared that a sudden shutdown might incite violence. Instead, a controlled and shortened version of the celebration was allowed to proceed under tight supervision.
The government’s findings severely criticize RCB, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), and associated partners like DNA Entertainment for failing to ensure safety, legal approvals, and proper coordination with the police.
The report states that “this situation arose due to a lack of proper planning by the organisers and the failure to provide the necessary information in advance to the concerned authorities.” It also confirms that police acted promptly to control the situation at the gates, but the scale of the gathering had already overwhelmed infrastructure and security arrangements.
