Karnataka Government Blames RCB for Stampede That Killed 11 During Victory Parade

The Karnataka government has held Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and its event partners responsible for the deadly stampede outside Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4, during the team’s IPL 2025 victory celebrations. The incident left 11 fans dead and several others injured.

In its report submitted to the Karnataka High Court, the government pointed to a series of failures by RCB and event organiser DNA Entertainment Networks Pvt. Ltd. Authorities also flagged a video appeal by RCB star Virat Kohli, which urged fans to attend the parade, even though Bengaluru police had denied permission for the event.

According to the report, DNA Entertainment only informed the police about the event on June 3 but did not seek formal permission, which is required under a 2009 city order. Despite the denial from police, RCB went ahead with promotions, inviting fans through social media and the Kohli video, which advertised the event as free to attend. The government believes this led to an unexpectedly massive crowd.

Panic broke out on the day of the event when organisers suddenly announced around 3:14 PM that entry passes were needed to get into the stadium — a change from the previously advertised open-entry policy. The confusion triggered chaos among the waiting crowds.

The report also criticised the lack of coordination between RCB, DNA Entertainment, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA). Mismanagement at the entry gates and delays in opening them contributed to the stampede, the report said. Seven police personnel were also injured during the incident.

The government stated that the parade had to be scaled down in response to the situation.

Following the tragedy, the state ordered magisterial and judicial inquiries, registered FIRs, and took disciplinary action against several officials, including suspending the Chief Minister’s political secretary and transferring the head of state intelligence. Compensation has been announced for the families of the victims and the injured.