RCB fully blamed for Bengaluru stampede, Karnataka govt shockingly targets Virat Kohli

The Karnataka government has blamed Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for the deadly stampede that took place during the team’s IPL victory parade. In a report submitted to the High Court, the government stated that RCB’s mismanagement and lack of crowd control were responsible for the tragedy.

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL 2025 title celebration turned into a tragedy. RCB returned home after defeating Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the final on June 3 in Ahmedabad. A massive crowd gathered outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, leading to 11 deaths and more than two dozen injuries.

Karnataka Congress Government Puts Full Blame on RCB for Bengaluru Stampede

The Karnataka High Court dismissed the state government's request to keep the report confidential regarding the stampede during Royal Challengers Bengaluru's IPL victory celebration.

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In a status report submitted to the High Court, the RCB management, along with event partner DNA Networks and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), “unilaterally” organized the celebration without consulting the police or securing the required permissions.

"The RCB Management, in association with its event management partner, DNA Networks Private Limited, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), unilaterally decided to hold the victory celebration without prior consultation with the police and without obtaining the necessary permissions or licence for such celebrations,” the status report said.

Government Reveals RCB Ignored Safety Protocols, Mentions Virat Kohli's Video

The government also revealed that RCB used a promotional video featuring Virat Kohli as part of their IPL victory celebrations. On June 3 at around 6:30 pm, the KSCA CEO informed the Cubbon Park Police Station about a planned victory parade if RCB won the final.

However, the police rejected the proposal, citing a lack of details such as the estimated crowd size, safety measures, and logistical planning. Authorities also noted that the request was submitted on very short notice, leaving no time for adequate preparations.

"Insufficient information regarding the expected gathering size, arrangements made, possible bottlenecks, and the like, as well as the proposal being made on very short notice,” the report stated.

RCB Issued Open Invitation for Victory Parade Without Police Clearance

The report further stated that RCB's social media campaign ahead of their IPL 2025 victory parade drew massive online attention. Notably, the franchise made several promotional posts, including a video featuring Virat Kohli.

RCB posted an open invitation for the parade early on June 4, just hours before it was set to begin. A video featuring Kohli was shared at 8:55 am, announcing the team's plans to celebrate with fans, and another post at 3:14 pm revealed the parade’s schedule and details about limited free passes.

By the time of that final post, large crowds had already gathered near the stadium. The report stated that RCB had merely informed the police but did not submit a formal request or provide essential details required for planning crowd control and ensuring public safety.

“It is pertinent to note that a mere intimation was given by the organisers; there was no requisition for permissions in the prescribed format, nor was any necessary information provided to the concerned departments to anticipate the gathering and make adequate preparations,” the report added.

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