The stampede took place near the Chinnaswamy Stadium during a celebration event for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and resulted in the deaths of 11 people and injuries to 56 others.
Bengaluru: Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Tuesday confirmed that Advocate General (AG) Shashi Kiran Shetty will file a detailed reply to the High Court regarding the tragic stampede that occurred on June 4 in Bengaluru.
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The stampede took place near the Chinnaswamy Stadium during a celebration event for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and resulted in the deaths of 11 people and injuries to 56 others.
This statement came after the Karnataka High Court posted the next hearing for June 12 in connection with a petition it initiated on its own (suo motu) after the tragedy.
During the last hearing, the division bench, consisting of Acting Chief Justice V Kameswar Rao and Justice C M Joshi, raised nine important questions and directed the Advocate General to file his response in a sealed cover.
Home Minister Parameshwara told reporters: “Answers have to be given to the questions asked by the court, the Advocate General will prepare and give. He will say what has to be said on behalf of the government. All those things have been discussed. The Chief Minister, the Chief Secretary and Advocate General have discussed. Factuals will be told to the court.”
When asked whether the government’s investigation report on the stampede would also be submitted to the court, Parameshwara replied: “It has to come to the government first. After the government gets it, it can be informed to the court. Until that nothing can be said.”
During the previous hearing, the High Court asked several crucial questions, including:
- Who gave permission for the RCB victory celebration event?
- When and how was the event approved?
- Did the organisers have the necessary permissions?
The tragic incident happened on the evening of June 4, when a massive crowd had gathered near the stadium to attend the IPL victory celebration of RCB. Unfortunately, the event was not managed properly, resulting in a deadly stampede.
The Congress high command has summoned Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar to Delhi.
Responding to this, Parameshwara said: “The agenda of the meeting is not known.”
When asked whether a cabinet reshuffle is expected, he responded: “How do I get to know? I don’t want to speculate. I don’t know. If I’m called I will go. They have not called anyone else other than the CM and Shivakumar who is also the state Congress President.”
The Home Minister also addressed another issue—about the murder case of Hindutva activist Suhas Shetty being handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
He explained that this was done under the powers of the Union Home Ministry: “They (Union Home Ministry) have not given any explanation, they have quoted certain sections.”
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When asked if the decision to hand over the case to NIA was influenced by pressure from the state BJP,
Parameshwara said: “I don’t know about it, nothing of that sort has been mentioned.”
Clarifying further on the matter, he said: “I don’t know what the reasoning is, it is not mentioned in the letter. Only sections have been quoted and they have said the case should be handed over to the NIA…we have very little choice.”
The government now awaits the investigation report on the stampede before submitting any additional details to the High Court. Meanwhile, public concern continues to grow over the handling of the event and the tragic loss of lives.
