The Karnataka High Court has told the state government to put its internal report on the 4 June stampede outside Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium into the public domain. Eleven people died and more than 50 were hurt when crowds gathered to celebrate Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s maiden IPL title.
During Monday’s hearing, the government argued the document should stay under wraps. The judges disagreed, saying the file contained only “facts as perceived” by officials and therefore could not be hidden on legal grounds. The court also asked that copies be shared with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) and DNA Entertainment Networks, the event partner involved.
Those three parties are waiting on a separate CID inquiry. Senior RCB executives and DNA staff have already recorded statements, but no timetable for a final ruling has been fixed.
Away from the High Court, a two-member Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) bench has been digging into who let the crowd swell to an estimated three-to-five lakh outside the ground. The bench pointed out that RCB’s social-media call for a victory parade triggered the gathering and, in its 29-page order, said the franchise had “created nuisance” by pressing ahead without the proper permits.
Vikash Kumar, then Inspector General and Additional Commissioner of Police (West), was one of five officers sacked after the incident. He took the matter to CAT, claiming he had been unfairly blamed. The tribunal’s view was blunt: the officials showed “substantial dereliction of duty” and failed to seek “guidance”, allowing the situation to spin “out of control.” Whether the bench’s wording influences the forthcoming CID report remains to be seen.
Meanwhile, RCB’s public output has been minimal since 4 June. Chief marketing officer Nikhil Sosale spent a short spell in custody last month before being granted bail, and the club has spoken only to confirm higher compensation for bereaved families and support for the injured. A trust named RCB Cares is being set up for longer-term help, though details are thin.
People close to the players admit the squad is “still processing” the tragedy. One senior coach, who asked not to be named, said the most important thing now is “making sure those families know we haven’t forgotten them”.
For now, focus shifts back to the High Court’s disclosure order. Once the report lands in public view, questions about who signed off crowd-control plans—and whether anyone actually did—are likely to grow louder. A final decision on liability, compensation and possible sanctions will hinge on how the High Court, CAT and CID findings fit together, a process that may test patience but is central to delivering some measure of accountability.
