Bengaluru Stampede Case: Karnataka High Court Pulls Up State Government, Demands Clear Answers
The recent victory celebration in Bengaluru, leading to tragic stampede is being handled by the Karnataka High Court and it didn’t hold back in expressing its disappointment with how the state government handled the incident. As the court reviewed petitions related to the incident, it made clear that serious questions remain about the lack of proper planning and the slow response that followed.
At the core of the hearing was a strong call for accountability. The judges wanted to understand how such a massive event—one that sadly ended in chaos and loss of life—was allowed to happen without the necessary precautions.
During the hearing, the Advocate General (AG) representing the government said that the investigation had been handed over to the Crime Investigation Department (CID). Things got complicated when it became clear that arrests were still being made by the Central Crime Branch (CCB), and suspects were being brought in by the local Cubbon Park Police. This confusion raised tough questions about who was really in charge and whether the proper procedures were being followed.
To clarify the situation, the court has posed nine pointed questions to the state, including:
Who made the call to hold the victory event, and what process led to that decision?
Were there any measures in place for crowd and traffic control?
What kind of medical support was arranged on-site?
Did the organisers have any idea how many people were expected?
How fast did injured people get help and reach hospitals?
Was there a standard plan in place to manage such a massive crowd—50,000 or more?
Was the event even officially cleared and permitted?
The state has asked for more time to answer these questions and will respond in a sealed cover—a move that suggests sensitive details may be involved.
Adding to the legal tangle, the AG noted that some of the people arrested are challenging their detention, arguing that there's inconsistency in who’s investigating and who’s arresting. Because of these complications, the state is urging the court not to make certain details public just yet.
One of the accused, Royal Challengers Bengaluru official Nikhil Sosale, has claimed his arrest was unlawful. Meanwhile, DNA Entertainment Networks Pvt. Ltd., which organised the event, has filed a petition stating that the Chief Minister himself had extended an open invitation to the public—raising questions about how much responsibility lies with the government.
For now, the High Court has adjourned the matter, giving the state more time to come back with answers. But the message from the bench is clear: someone must be held accountable, and the truth must come out.
