The Karnataka High Court on Friday ordered a temporary stay on coercive action against the office bearers of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), who had approached the court seeking the quashing of an FIR filed against them in connection with the deadly stampede outside Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
The tragic incident unfolded on Wednesday evening, when a massive crowd gathered outside the stadium to join the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) team’s IPL victory celebrations. The stampede resulted in the deaths of 11 people and injuries to 56 others.
In the aftermath, Bengaluru Police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against the RCB franchise, event management company DNA Entertainment Networks Pvt. Ltd., and the KSCA.
The FIR, filed at Cubbon Park Police Station, cited multiple serious offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including:
- Section 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder)
- Section 115 (voluntarily causing hurt)
- Section 118 (voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt by using dangerous weapons or means)
- Section 121 (voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt to deter a public servant from his duty)
- Section 190 (liability of members of an unlawful assembly for offences committed in pursuit of a common object)
- Section 132 (assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging their duty)
- Section 125(12) (acts endangering life or personal safety of others)
The FIR stated:
“The stampede incident… was due to RCB franchise, DNA, and KSCA administrative committee giving permission for the program and arranging the program at KSCA stadium without adequate arrangements for the program, without adequate security for fans to enter peacefully, without balanced arrangements for fans,”
Additionally, the report cited misleading announcements as a contributing factor:
“Additionally, thousands of fans gathered around the stadium due to RCB’s official posts on social media and social networking sites providing misleading information about free entry for the public at gates, leading to fan gatherings. This incident occurred due to this reason,”
The High Court’s interim relief means that, for now, no arrests or direct police action will be taken against the association’s officials until further hearings take place.