On Monday, July 14, the Karnataka High Court ordered the state government to publicly release its status report on the deadly stampede that occurred on June 4 outside Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) IPL win celebration. The rush claimed the lives of 11 people and injured more than 50.
Following the stampede, the state administration sent a status report behind a sealed cover, demanding that it be kept confidential. The study was part of a suo motu public interest litigation filed to assess accountability and recommend preventive measures for future public meetings. The administration warned that revelation could have an impact on the ongoing Magisterial and Judicial Commission investigations into the incident.
However, a division bench consisting of Acting Chief Justice V Kameswar Rao and Justice C M Joshi denied the state’s request for confidentiality. The bench decided that the report’s contents were just the government’s assessment of facts and did not fit the methodology required for sealed cover protection, which is only applicable in cases involving national security, public interest, or privacy rights.
The court emphasised that retired judges and senior officials handling the investigations are expected to remain objective and unlikely to be swayed by the findings. The High Court ordered the state to share the report, with translations if necessary,
The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), RCB, and DNA Entertainment Networks, which organised the event.
These parties are anticipated to assist the court in better understanding the events leading up to the tragedy, the causes of enormous crowd mismanagement, and if the accident might have been avoided.
RCB, DNA officials submit testimonies
The decision came after submissions by Advocate General Shashi Kiran Shetty, who claimed the sealed cover was essential until all formal inquiries were concluded. However, amicus curiae S. Susheela pointed out the lack of legal factors for the delay and the need for transparency.
The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) had earlier held RCB accountable for attracting a crowd of nearly three to five lakh people through unregulated victory parade announcements made on social media. The tribunal stressed that RCB went ahead without the required permissions, contributing to the chaos. Bengaluru police officials, including Inspector General Vikash Kumar, were dismissed for failure of duty, a decision that remains under review.
Meanwhile, RCB and DNA officials have submitted testimonies as part of a CID investigation. RCB, which initially announced an increased compensation to victims’ families and the establishment of a relief fund, RCB Cares, has not released any updates since the tragedy.
India
