Bengaluru Stampede: Police Commissioner Among 8 Officers Suspended Over RCB IPL Victory Parade
Bengaluru, 5th June 2025: In the wake of the tragic stampede that claimed 11 lives and injured 33 during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) IPL victory parade, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has ordered stringent action, including the arrest of officials from RCB and DNA Event Management Agency. The state government has also suspended eight senior police officials, including the Bengaluru Police Commissioner.
The suspended personnel include the Additional Police Commissioner, Cubbon Park Police Station in-charge, ACP, DCP Central Division, Cricket Stadium in-charge, and Station House Officer. The decision follows mounting criticism over lapses in planning and crowd control at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, where thousands had gathered to celebrate RCB’s maiden IPL title win.
Addressing the media, CM Siddaramaiah said, “A one-member inquiry commission has been constituted under the leadership of retired High Court judge Michael D’Cunha. The commission has been tasked with submitting a detailed report within 30 days. We will not spare anyone found responsible, regardless of their stature.”
He further announced that action would be taken against all those responsible for organizing the parade. Arrests will include officials from the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) and DNA Event Management Company.
Earlier on Thursday, the Karnataka government submitted a status report in the High Court. The report confirmed that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) will now lead the probe, and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) will be formed for a thorough inquiry. An FIR has been filed against RCB, DNA Event Management, and KSCA under charges of criminal negligence.
The FIR highlights that the stampede occurred due to a combination of poor crowd management and lack of coordination among the event organizers and authorities. Meanwhile, the High Court bench of Acting Chief Justice V Kameshwar Rao and Justice CM Joshi has directed the state to provide regular updates, with the next hearing scheduled for June 10.
During the hearing, the petitioner’s lawyer questioned the state’s decision to host an official felicitation event for players who “do not represent the country,” demanding clarity on who approved the celebrations.
What Went Wrong: A Timeline of Negligence
On May 4, RCB held a victory parade in Bengaluru following their IPL championship win. The government first felicitated the players at the Vidhana Soudha, followed by a public event at Chinnaswamy Stadium. Tragedy struck outside the stadium, where thousands gathered—many without valid entry passes.
Here’s how the chaos unfolded:
Free Entry Passes Backfired: Entry to the stadium was allowed with free passes, distributed via the RCB website. The website crashed due to high traffic, prompting many to show up without passes. Crowd size far exceeded expectations.
Security Mismanagement: As per preliminary findings, the crowd surged toward gates 10, 12, and 13. Police attempted to control the situation with lathicharge. A slab over a drain collapsed, triggering panic and a deadly stampede.
Gate Closures Added Fuel: Around 3:30 PM, with crowd size swelling, all stadium gates were shut. Even pass-holders were denied entry, sparking chaos. At Gate 10, women and children were pushed back by police, with some women losing consciousness.
Overworked Security Personnel: The government revealed that although 5,000 police personnel were deployed, most had been on duty for over 36 hours, and the crowd was simply too large to manage effectively. The parade was eventually cancelled.
All 11 victims were below the age of 35, including three teenagers, highlighting the tragic human cost of mismanagement. With the investigation now shifting to CID and SIT, and arrests imminent, the state government has pledged accountability and justice.
The unfolding developments continue to draw national attention, raising serious questions about public safety protocols during large-scale celebrations.
