Govt Tells HC: No Permission Sought for RCB Stampede Event
The Karnataka government has told the High Court that the tragic stampede outside Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4, which claimed the lives of 11 people, occurred during an event organised by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) without obtaining any formal permission. The revelation adds weight to the growing legal and political fallout following the IPL victory celebration gone wrong.
No Approval Granted for RCB Celebration
According to the Advocate General, RCB did not seek or obtain permission from the relevant authorities as required under the Karnataka 2009 guidelines for public events. Instead, the organisers merely issued an “intimation letter” late on the evening of June 3, less than 24 hours before the event. Despite expecting a massive turnout, particularly after widely publicised social media invitations, no police or administrative clearances were secured.
The government asserted that holding the event under such circumstances was a violation of established norms. The state clarified that while the gathering was well-publicised, there was no official nod for such a high-profile celebration. The result, it said, was an unmanaged crowd surge that led to the stampede.
Organisers, Including RCB and BCCI, Under Scrutiny
In court, it was also pointed out that under a tripartite agreement involving RCB, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), and the BCCI, it was the franchise’s responsibility to ensure crowd control, gate security, and ticket management. The government criticised the public messaging by RCB, especially the statement that “we invited the whole world,” which allegedly misled citizens into assuming official sanction.
RCB Officials Challenge Arrests
RCB’s marketing head Nikhil Sosale and other officials, arrested following the incident, have moved the High Court challenging the legality of their detention. Sosale’s legal team has claimed that the arrests were based on oral instructions from the Chief Minister and lacked due process. The High Court has reserved its decision on whether to provide interim relief to the petitioners.
Political Blame Game and Safety Concerns
The tragedy has sparked political tensions, with opposition leaders blaming the government for failing to ensure adequate crowd control. Although the government has pointed fingers at RCB for bypassing procedures, questions remain about why law enforcement failed to respond to intelligence alerts warning of a large crowd.
The government acknowledged that lapses occurred but maintained that primary accountability lay with the organisers. Critics, however, argue that the administration cannot absolve itself of responsibility for public safety, especially at such a large gathering.
