The Karnataka High Court has directed the state government to provide a copy of the status report prepared regarding the stampede that occurred in Bengaluru on June 4 to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), and DNA Entertainment Networks.
IPL 2025: The Karnataka High Court has issued a significant directive to the state government concerning the stampede that occurred during RCB (Royal Challengers Bangalore)'s celebratory event in Bengaluru. The High Court has instructed the government to share the report prepared on this incident with the RCB franchise, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), and DNA Entertainment Networks. This decision appears to bring significant relief to RCB.
This order came after RCB won their first-ever IPL title on June 3, 2025, defeating Punjab Kings at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Following this victory, a stampede occurred on June 4 during celebrations outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, tragically resulting in the deaths of 11 people.
Setback for State Government, Confidentiality Argument Rejected
A bench of the Karnataka High Court, comprising Acting Chief Justice V. Kameshwar Rao and Justice C.M. Joshi, made crucial remarks on Monday. The court dismissed the state government's argument that sharing the report could affect the magistrate's inquiry and the judicial commission's proceedings.
The court stated that this argument was illegal and baseless. The Supreme Court has also clearly stated that information can only be provided in a sealed envelope in cases related to national security, confidentiality, or broader public interest. There is no such basis in this case.
Orders to Submit Report to RCB, KSCA, and DNA Entertainment
The High Court clarified that it is mandatory to provide a copy of the investigation report to all major parties involved in the case. This includes the RCB franchise, the Karnataka State Cricket Association, and DNA Entertainment Networks. The court said that all these parties should be aware of the facts related to the case so that they can cooperate in the investigation. The court also added that if the government hides information from these parties, it would not only be unconstitutional but also against transparency.
11 People Lost Their Lives in the Stampede, Celebrations Turned to Mourning
It is noteworthy that a grand celebration was organized at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru following RCB's historic victory. However, due to heavy crowds and mismanagement, a stampede occurred outside the stadium on June 4. In this tragic incident, 11 people lost their lives, and dozens were injured. After the incident, allegations of negligence were leveled against the government and the administration. Questions arose as to why such a large crowd was allowed to gather without adequate crowd control arrangements.
RCB made history this year by winning the IPL title for the first time. This victory was a moment of pride and celebration for their fans, but after this incident, this victory has become a source of trouble for the team and the franchise. The franchise is constantly caught up in legal processes and investigations. Meanwhile, RCB had already requested the court to provide them with the investigation report related to the incident so that they could present their case properly.
