On Monday, July 14, the Karnataka High Court ordered the state government to publicly release its status report on the deadly stampede that occurred on June 4 outside Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) IPL win celebration. Eleven individuals were killed and more than fifty were injured in the rush.
The state government filed a status report after the stampede, asking that it be kept secret and enclosed it in a sealed cover. The study was a component of a suo motu public interest lawsuit that was started in order to assess responsibility and provide safeguards for upcoming public events. The administration stated the revelation might have an impact on the ongoing investigations into the incident by the Judicial Commission and the Magisterial.
However, a division bench of Acting Chief Justice V Kameswar Rao and Justice C M Joshi denied the state’s request for confidentiality. The bench decided that the report’s contents solely represented the government’s interpretation of the facts and did not adhere to the sealed cover protection methodology, which is only applicable in cases involving privacy rights, public interest, or national security.
The court stressed that senior officials and retired judges who are in charge of the investigations are supposed to maintain their objectivity and not be swayed by the findings. The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), RCB, and DNA Entertainment Networks, who were involved in the event’s organization, were ordered by the High Court to get the report from the state, along with any translations that may be required. It is anticipated that these parties will assist the court in better comprehending the circumstances leading up to the tragedy, the causes of the widespread crowd mishandling, and if the catastrophe might have been avoided.
RCB, DNA officials submit testimonies
Advocate General Shashi Kiran Shetty made submissions that contributed to the ruling, arguing that the sealed cover was necessary until all formal investigations were completed. Amicus curiae S. Susheela, however, drew attention to the necessity of transparency and the absence of legal justifications for the delay.
RCB was previously held responsible by the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) for drawing a throng of about three to five lakh persons with its uncontrolled social media victory parade announcements. The tribunal emphasized that RCB contributed to the turmoil by proceeding without the necessary authorizations. Inspector General Vikash Kumar and other Bengaluru police officers were fired for neglecting their duties; the decision is still being reviewed.
As part of an ongoing CID investigation, RCB and DNA officials have provided testimonies. After announcing the creation of a relief fund called RCB Cares and increasing compensation for the families of the fatalities, RCB has not provided any updates since the disaster.
