A complaint has been filed against Indian cricketer Virat Kohli at Bengaluru’s Cubbon Park Police Station over the tragic June 4 stampede near M Chinnaswamy Stadium, which claimed 11 lives and left several others injured.
The complaint, lodged by social activist HM Venkatesh, alleged that Kohli promoted gambling through the IPL, which he claims incited the crowd and contributed to the chaos during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) victory celebrations.
“Virat Kohli of the Bangalore RCB team is the most prominent among those who participated in such gambling and incited people to gather in a specific place and caused this tragedy,” Venkatesh stated in his complaint, according to media.
While the complaint has been acknowledged, no FIR has been registered against Kohli yet. Police officials have clarified that the complaint will be reviewed under the existing investigation into the incident.
What the Police and Courts Have Done So Far
The Bengaluru police have arrested four people, including RCB official Nikhil Sosale and three event managers, in connection with the stampede. The arrests were made in a joint operation by Cubbon Park Police and the Central Crime Branch in the early hours of June 6. All four have been remanded to 14 days of judicial custody by a sessions court.
An FIR has already been filed against the RCB franchise, DNA Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) under charges including culpable homicide and illegal assembly.
Meanwhile, the Karnataka High Court has granted interim relief to KSCA office-bearers, including President Raghu Ram Bhat, Secretary A Shankar, and Treasurer ES Jairam, directing the police not to take coercive action against them until further hearings. The matter is scheduled for hearing on June 9.
Nikhil Sosale, the RCB official arrested in the case, has also approached the high court, challenging the legality of his arrest and seeking a declaration that it was carried out without proper evidence or enquiry.
Government Action and Suspension of Officials
In the aftermath, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah directed the state’s top police officers to ensure accountability, blaming “irresponsibility” and “carelessness” for the incident. As a result, several top police officials were suspended, including:
- B Dayananda, Bengaluru Police Commissioner
- Vikash Kumar Vikash, Additional Commissioner
- Shekhar HT, DCP (Central)
- Balakrishna, ACP
- Girish AK, Cubbon Park Police Inspector
The Tragedy
The stampede occurred during the RCB’s IPL celebration event, drawing massive crowds to the Chinnaswamy Stadium. Limited crowd control and logistical mismanagement reportedly worsened the situation, leading to a deadly rush of attendees.
As investigations continue, the role of stakeholders—including players, event managers, and cricketing bodies—will come under scrutiny, even as cricket fans and the public await answers.