Tribunal deems RCB responsible for stampede due to negligence of due procedure, revokes officer suspensions

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The Central Administrative Tribunal appointed to look into the suspension of five police officers following the stampede at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 5 has found Royal Challengers Bengaluru responsible for the incident. All suspensions have been revoked along with full retrospective pay.

The stampede in and around Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 5 during Royal Challengers Bengaluru's victory parade after lifting the 2025 Indian Premier League, that led to 11 deaths and over 50 injuries, has been adjudged to be the result of ignorance on the franchise's part by a Central Administrative Tribunal. Presiding judge B.K. Shrivastava has handed a clean chit to the five police officers that were suspended in the aftermath of the incident, namely applicant Inspector General Vikash Kumar Vikash, Additional Director General B. Dayanand, Deputy Commissioner Shekar H Tekkannavar, and Assistant Commissioners C. Balakrishna and A.K. Girish, as well as awarded them full compensatory pay and allowances for the period they were suspended.

The tribunal revealed that the Karnataka State Cricket Association had submitted a letter to the Cubbon Park Police Station on the eve of the IPL final informing the authorities of a potential victory parade should RCB emerge victorious. While the letter was never passed on to the superiors, including the applicant, the tribunal has deemed the request insufficient. As per 'Licensing and Controlling of Assemblies and Public Procession (Bengaluru City) Order, 2009', the request must have been submitted at least a week prior to the date of the event along with two forms and a deposit fees.

"‌Therefore, it appears that any application in Form No. 1 & 2 was not submitted by the RCB or M/s DNA Entertainment Network Private Limited, the event management firm of RCВ. Without taking any permission the aforesaid franchise organized the programme. As per Rule 3 (2) of the aforesaid order the application Form No. 1 & 2 should be submitted along with some fees. Any fees was not deposited. Without complying the aforesaid order, the concerned company only submitted a simple letter (Annexure - R2) to the Inspector of Police, Cubbon Park Police Station which cannot be said the compliance of the prescribed rules. Upon the basis of this letter, prima facie the police was not bound to give any facilities or to provide any support. In spite that the Police provided the proper arrangements as far as possible," the order read.

While the franchise represantitives have argued providing security still remains the police's duty as a part of their miscallenous duties in the Karnataka Police Manual, the police has counteres stating their personnel were already occupied managing celebrations across the city overnight as well as a ceremony organized at the Vidhan Soudha on the same date. Nevertheless, despite no official confirmation from the police, RCB decided to go ahead with the celebrations by posting an announcement on social media that led to the assembly of an estimated three lakh people.

""Prima facie it appears that the RCB is responsible for the gathering of about three to five lakh people. The RCB did not take the appropriate permission or consent from the Police. Suddenly, they posted on social media platforms and as a result of aforesaid information the public were gathered. Because of shortage of time on 04.06.2026, the Police was unable to do the appropriate arrangements. Sufficient time was not given to the Police," the order further read.

"They are neither 'God'(Bhagwan) nor Magician and also not having the magic powers like 'Alladdin ka Chirag' which was able to fulfil any wish only by rubbing a finger."

RCB or the Karnataka State Cricket Adminstration are yet to offer any comments on the decision.