Key Points
- KSCA Secretary A Shankar and Treasurer E Jayaram resign, citing moral responsibility for stampede tragedy.
- 11 people died and dozens injured during RCB’s IPL victory celebration at M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
- FIR registered against RCB, KSCA President Raghuram Bhat, and event company DNA Entertainment.
- KSCA claims event management and crowd control were the responsibility of the event company.
- Court directs police not to take strict action against KSCA officials; next hearing set for June 16.
Bengaluru: In the wake of the tragic stampede that claimed 11 lives and left dozens injured during the Royal Challengers Bangalore’s IPL title celebration at Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Friday night, Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) Secretary A Shankar and Treasurer E Jayaram have resigned from their posts with immediate effect. The resignations were submitted to the KSCA President on June 6, 2025.
Taking Moral Responsibility Amid Public Outcry
In a joint press statement released Saturday, Shankar and Jayaram acknowledged their limited direct involvement in the incident but said they were stepping down out of “moral responsibility.” Their decision comes amid mounting criticism from the public and political circles over the handling of the event.
“The unexpected and tragic events that have taken place in the last two days may have had a very limited role in it, but we are resigning from our posts taking moral responsibility,” the statement read.
FIRs and Suspensions: Who’s Under Investigation?
The stampede, which occurred as massive crowds gathered outside the stadium for the RCB victory parade, has triggered a wave of administrative action:
- FIRs Filed: The Cubbon Park police have registered FIRs against RCB, KSCA President Raghuram Bhat, and event management company DNA Entertainment.
- Suspensions: Several politicians and police officials have also been suspended pending investigation.
KSCA’s Role and Event Permissions
A PTI report revealed that KSCA had actively sought government permission for RCB’s victory celebrations at Vidhana Soudha, helping the franchise secure official approval for the event. However, KSCA maintained that the actual responsibility for organizing and managing the event—including crowd control—rested with the event management company.
During court proceedings, KSCA officials argued that their association was not responsible for gate and crowd management, distancing themselves from direct accountability.
Chaos Outside, Ceremony Inside
While the official felicitation ceremony at Vidhana Soudha proceeded smoothly, chaos erupted outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium as lakhs of fans gathered, leading to overcrowding and the tragic stampede. The victory procession was halted due to the uncontrollable crowd, while the program inside the stadium continued, further fueling public anger.
Legal Proceedings and Next Steps
The Karnataka High Court has instructed the police not to take harsh action against KSCA officials until further notice. The next hearing is scheduled for June 16, when the court will consider petitions seeking to quash the FIRs against KSCA office-bearers.
The Bengaluru stampede during RCB’s IPL victory celebration has led to the resignation of KSCA’s secretary and treasurer, as well as FIRs against key officials and the event company. With the next court hearing set for June 16, the focus remains on accountability and ensuring such a tragedy is never repeated.
