A month after the tragic stampede outside Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium that claimed 11 lives and left over 50 injured, the Karnataka government has laid direct blame on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and its partners.
In a status report submitted to the High Court, the government stated that RCB, DNA Entertainment Networks, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) went ahead with their IPL victory celebrations despite being denied police permission for the event.
Virat Kohli & RCB social media at fault?
The report was filed on June 12 and made public through court order on July 8. The organisers, according to the state, failed to provide crowd management details and ignored law enforcement’s refusal to grant clearance for the parade and stadium celebrations. RCB, instead, doubled down on promotion, including a video message from Virat Kohli posted at 8:55 AM on June 4, inviting fans to join the festivities.
While KSCA had informed Cubbon Park Police Station about a potential celebration late on June 3, the authorities denied the request, citing short notice and inadequate planning. Yet, RCB continued with aggressive promotions.
By 3:14 PM on June 4, they had shared parade timings and a link to their website offering “limited free passes”—after lakhs had already begun arriving at the venue. The first social media post featuring Kohli drew over 1.6 million views, with later posts also racking up massive engagement.
The High Court is expected to examine individual responsibilities further when the matter is heard again. Meanwhile, FIRs and suspensions have already been initiated, and the BCCI has issued a show-cause notice to RCB.
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