‘Responsible For Gathering 3-4 Lakh People…’: Tribunal Blames RCB For Stampede Outside Chinnaswamy Stadium

Bengaluru Stampede: The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has observed that, prima facie, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) cricket team bears responsibility for the massive crowd that converged on Bengaluru’s streets on June 4, culminating in a tragic stampede that claimed many lives and injured a few. 

The tribunal noted, “Therefore, 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.”

“Suddenly, the RCB created the aforesaid type of nuisance without any prior permission,” the order stated. 

“It cannot be expected from the Police that within a short time of about 12 hours the police will make all arrangements required in the Police Act or in the other rules, etc.”

RCB, celebrating their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title, had posted details of the victory parade on social media platforms late on June 3, inviting fans to join the celebrations scheduled for the following morning.

While hearing a petition by a suspended Bengaluru police officer, the tribunal said, “Police personnel are also human beings,” the tribunal remarked. “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.”

The tribunal further observed, “Because of shortage of time on 4 June 2025, the police was unable to do the appropriate arrangements. Sufficient time was not given to the police.”

According to the order, apart from the swelling crowd assembled for the parade, the police were simultaneously occupied managing another major event organised by the state government at Vidhana Soudha. The overlapping events placed additional strain on personnel already scrambling to control the surge of fans who began gathering late on June 3.

“Members of the public were present in large numbers on the night between June 3 and 4,” the tribunal said. “The police were occupied managing them.”