Karnataka High Court Halts Action Against Cricket Association in Bengaluru Stampede Case
The Karnataka High Court has intervened in the Bengaluru stampede case, preventing any punitive actions against the Karnataka State Cricket Association. This ruling comes after tragic events during an IPL celebration that resulted in multiple fatalities and injuries. The court has mandated cooperation from the KSCA in the ongoing investigation while ensuring protection from arrest for its officials. As the case unfolds, the focus remains on accountability and the circumstances leading to the tragic incident. The next hearing is set for June 16, where further developments will be addressed.
| Jun 6, 2025, 17:10 IST
Court Decision Provides Relief to Cricket Officials
The Karnataka High Court issued a ruling on Friday that prevents the administration from taking any punitive measures against the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) in connection with the Bengaluru stadium stampede incident. This decision comes as a significant relief for the officials of the state cricket association, who were granted protection from arrest after being named in an FIR alongside Royal Challengers Bengaluru and event management firm DNA Entertainment Private Limited, citing various sections of the Indian Penal Code. The incident, which occurred on June 4 during a ceremony honoring IPL 18 champions RCB, resulted in the tragic deaths of 11 individuals and injuries to 56 others due to a large crowd gathering outside M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Court Directives and Ongoing Investigations
Justice S.R. Krishna Kumar instructed the petitioners not to act outside the court's jurisdiction without permission and directed KSCA officials to cooperate with the ongoing investigation. He emphasized that no action would be taken against the management of the Karnataka State Cricket Association until the next hearing, provided they assist in the inquiry. The state's Advocate General, Shashi Kiran, argued for the continuation of the investigation, assuring that no arrests would be made at this time. However, the petitioner's lawyer pointed out that the marketing head of RCB had already been arrested while attempting to flee to Dubai.
Government Accountability and Future Hearings
In response, the petitioner's lawyer highlighted that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had stated on Thursday that arrests would be made of the organizers, including representatives from RCB, DNA Entertainment, and KSCA. Nevertheless, the court provided assurances of protection from arrest for the officials and scheduled a hearing for June 16 regarding the petition seeking to dismiss the case. Previously, KSCA distanced itself from the chaos that ensued during RCB's victory celebration, attributing the stampede to mismanagement by the state government, RCB, and the event organizers.