Key Points
- Fatal Stampede: 11 people died and more than 50 were injured during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) IPL 2025 victory parade at Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
- Blame Assigned: Karnataka government’s official report names the RCB franchise and cites star player Virat Kohli’s public video appeal as a key factor behind the massive, uncontrolled crowd.
- Permission Violation: RCB did not obtain required police or civic permissions for the parade; authorities had previously denied permission.
- Event Mismanagement: Organizers failed to prepare proper crowd control measures, suddenly changed entry rules, and lacked coordination with police.
- Aftermath: Widespread condemnation, legal inquiry, and compensation announced for victims’ families.
Bengaluru: In the aftermath of the tragic stampede at Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4, 2025 the scene of RCB’s first-ever IPL trophy celebration an official Karnataka government report has placed significant responsibility on the RCB management and specifically mentioned Virat Kohli’s role due to a widely circulated video appeal.
Timeline of Events
- June 3: RCB management and event partner DNA Entertainment Networks merely “informed” the police about the possibility of a parade, but did not seek formal permission. As required by law, event organizers must apply well in advance and provide detailed safety and crowd management plans none of which were fulfilled.
- Police Denial: The city police, citing lack of information and anticipated overcrowding, explicitly denied permission for a public parade at Vidhana Soudha and the stadium.
- June 4: Despite this, RCB posted invites on their social media from early morning, including a video at 8:55 AM featuring Virat Kohli, inviting fans to join a “free” celebration at the stadium. The posts suggested open entry and purposely hyped the mass gathering.
- Confusion and Panic: Over 300,000 fans nearly ten times the stadium’s capacity arrived. Organizers abruptly announced at 3:14 PM that entry would require passes (contradicting earlier messaging), adding to chaos at the gates. Delayed gate openings and no proper crowd management triggered a stampede.
- Tragic Outcome: Eleven people, including several women and children, lost their lives; over 50 were injured. Police undertook a lathi charge to manage the crowd and ambulances rushed victims to hospitals.
Why Is Virat Kohli Named in the Report?
The state’s report states that Virat Kohli’s enthusiastic video invite to fans played “a direct and significant role in drawing an overwhelming crowd,” which local authorities had specifically warned could not be managed safely. The video and social media posts gave fans the impression of an officially-sanctioned, open-access celebration.
Key Failures and Government Findings
| Failure | Details |
|---|---|
| No Permission Sought | Organizers only “informed” police one day prior; no formal permission or safety plan filed |
| Promotional Hype | Public video by Kohli inviting fans, social media blitz advertising free entry |
| Last-Minute Changes | Sudden shift to requiring passes worsened crowd panic |
| Lack of Preparedness | No adequate security, crowd control, or coordination with emergency services |
| Ongoing Event | Celebrations continued even after stampede news broke—organizers feared ending it could incite violence |
Consequences and Government Response
- Legal Action: FIRs registered against organizers; magisterial and judicial inquiries underway.
- Accountability: Political secretary suspended, state intelligence chief transferred, disciplinary action against police officers involved.
- Compensation: Ex-gratia payment of ₹25 lakh announced for families of each deceased victim.
- Court Ruling: Karnataka High Court ordered full disclosure of report and rejected state’s plea to keep it confidential.
Broader Impact
This tragedy has fueled a nationwide debate on the management of mass public events, celebrity responsibility, and the need for stronger legal compliance by event organizers. RCB and Kohli’s roles have come under intense public scrutiny, as has the preparedness of city authorities for unpredictable surges in crowd numbers.
