Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has ordered a Criminal Investigation Department (CID) probe into the stampede at M Chinnaswamy Stadium during the RCB IPL victory celebration, which claimed 11 lives and left 56 injured.
On Saturday, CID officials visited the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) office to collect preliminary details as part of the investigation, media reported.
Key Developments in the Bengaluru Stampede Case:
🔎 CID Probe Initiated
- CID officials visited KSCA’s premises to initiate fact-finding.
- The investigation was triggered by the tragic stampede on June 4, outside Chinnaswamy Stadium.
📝 KSCA Officials Resign
- KSCA Secretary A Shankar and Treasurer ES Jairam resigned, citing “moral responsibility.”
- Resignations submitted to KSCA President Raghuram Bhat, according to ESPNCricinfo.
📄 FIR Filed Against RCB
- Bengaluru Police registered an FIR naming RCB as the prime accused, along with:
- DNA Entertainment (event partner)
- KSCA (stadium authority)
- Police claim RCB had no permission to hold the celebration at the stadium.
🧑⚖️ Arrests and Judicial Custody
- Four individuals arrested, including RCB’s Head of Marketing and Revenue, Nikhil Sosale.
- All accused sent to 14-day judicial custody by a local court.
Political Fallout:
- BJP leader and Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje accused Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar of having “blood on their hands.”
- She demanded their resignation and a judicial probe by a sitting High Court judge.
- Criticism mounted over the suspension of Police Commissioner B Dayananda and four other officials, with former officers and opposition calling the action hasty.
Judicial Oversight:
- The Karnataka High Court has taken suo motu cognisance of the tragedy.
- It has asked the state to submit a status report by June 10.
- Separately, the government has appointed Justice John Michael D’Cunha, retired High Court judge, to lead a one-member inquiry commission.
Tragedy Overview:
- The incident occurred when thousands gathered to attend the RCB IPL victory celebration.
- Overcrowding and lack of crowd control led to a deadly stampede.
- 11 people lost their lives, while 56 others sustained injuries.