Karnataka High Court Today (July 8th) ordered police not to file a chargesheet yet in the stampede case against RCB and others. The case, linked to the tragic Chinnaswamy Stadium event, will now be heard on August 5.
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KARNATAKA: The Karnataka High Court today gave an important interim order in the case related to the tragic stampede at Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium.
The court said that the police should not file any final report or chargesheet yet in the criminal cases registered against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), the event management company DNA Entertainment, and other people connected with the event.
This direction was passed by Justice SR Krishna Kumar on Tuesday.
The accused parties – RCB, DNA, Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), RCB’s marketing head Nikhil Sosale and others – had filed petitions asking the Court to cancel the First Information Reports (FIRs) registered against them.
They were represented by Senior Advocates Sandesh J Chouta, CV Nagesh, and Kiran S Javalli, among others. Their main argument was that their side would be unfairly affected if the police went ahead and filed the chargesheet before the court even decided whether the FIRs were valid.
The Judge agreed with their concern and also noted that if chargesheets are filed before the FIRs are reviewed, then the petitions filed by the accused would become pointless.
So, the Court told the police that they can keep investigating the case, but they cannot file the chargesheet unless the Court gives permission. The earlier temporary protection from arrest, which was already granted to the accused, was also extended till the next hearing.
The Court clearly stated:
“Relist on August 5. Meanwhile, respondents not to file final report without leave of the court. Interim order extended till the next date of hearing.”
During the hearing, the lawyer for the event company DNA said that the case is hurting their business because many of their contracts have a rule that says the company should not be facing any criminal case.
He told the Court that the matter should be heard quickly. The Court took note of this concern and suggested hearing DNA’s matter separately on July 29. However, the lawyer for the State government said they would need to file one reply covering all petitions, not just DNA’s. So, the Court decided not to separate DNA’s case and said all petitions will now be heard together.
The new date for the next hearing of all these connected petitions is August 5.
This case relates to the shocking stampede that happened on June 4, when a massive crowd gathered outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. People had come in large numbers hoping to see and meet the RCB players after the team won their first IPL title in 18 years.
Though the stadium’s full capacity is only about 33,000, reports say that nearly 5 lakh people had arrived for the event. Due to this huge crowd, a stampede broke out.
Sadly, eleven people lost their lives, and 56 others were injured during the incident.
The State government blamed the organisers – including RCB, DNA and KSCA – saying they arranged the event without properly informing the authorities. On the other hand, the organisers blamed the State for failing to manage such a large crowd despite knowing that a big turnout was expected.
Because of this blame game, criminal cases were filed by the police against RCB, DNA, KSCA, and some of their key team members.
Now, with the Court’s recent order, the case has reached a pause point, and all parties are waiting for the hearing on August 5, when the Court will take a closer look at the validity of the FIRs and decide the next steps.
EARLIER TODAY IN KARNATAKA HC
The popular IPL team Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) moved to the Karnataka High Court, saying that the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) made serious comments against them without even hearing their side.
These comments were related to the tragic stampede at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on June 4, 2025, where 11 people lost their lives and over 56 were injured after a massive crowd gathered to welcome the RCB team following their first-ever IPL victory in 18 years.
The CAT had earlier said that RCB seemed to be “prima facie responsible” for the huge crowd at the stadium that led to the deadly stampede. The tribunal also said the company did not take proper permission from the State authorities on time, which made it harder for the police to manage the crowd properly.
In its ruling, the CAT stated:
“The RCB created the aforesaid type of nuisance without any prior permission. It cannot 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. Police personnel are also human beings. 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. To control the aforesaid type of gathering and for making the proper arrangements sufficient time should be given to the Police.”
This statement came while the CAT gave relief to a senior police officer, ACP Vikash Kumar Vikash, who had been suspended by the Karnataka government after the incident. The government had suspended several police officers, saying they failed to handle the crowd.
However, RCB is now fighting back, telling the High Court that these comments from the CAT are unfair and legally not acceptable because RCB was never made a party to the proceedings.
In their petition filed by advocate Raghuram Cadambi, the team clearly said:
“Despite the fact that (RCB) was not a party before it, the Hon’ble Central Administrative Tribunal, Bengaluru, has also held that (RCB) is prima facie responsible for the unfortunate incident that occurred on 04.06.2025 … The findings in the (CAT) Order against the (RCB) is contrary to the principles of natural justice as (RCB) was not a party to the proceedings… The Hon’ble Central Administrative Tribunal has made observations against the (RCB) without even giving an opportunity to be heard in the proceedings.”
According to RCB, they were never given a chance to explain themselves, and so any comments made against them are against the basic rules of justice. They have now requested the High Court to remove those remarks and make it clear that the CAT’s observations do not carry any legal force.
At the same time, the Karnataka government has also challenged the CAT’s order, especially the part where it revoked the suspension of ACP Vikash. The government claims the officer failed in his duty, and so his suspension was correct.
The High Court is expected to hear this appeal on July 9.
READ/DOWNLOAD CAT REPORT-
CASE TITLE:
Royal Challengers Sports Private Limited v. Mr. Vikash Kumar Vikash and others.
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