Chinnaswamy stampede: RCB, KSCA, DNA Events and Police held responsible in official inquiry report

The Karnataka government has received a detailed magisterial investigation report that assigns direct responsibility for the recent stampede near Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium to multiple agencies, with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) management named as the primary cause.

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Submitted by Bengaluru Urban Deputy Commissioner Jagadeesh to Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh, the report highlights grave lapses by four entities, RCB management, DNA Events (event partner), Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), and the city police. The probe was led by Justice Michael D. Cunha as part of a single-member commission.

The stampede occurred when an overwhelming crowd gathered near the stadium for RCB’s maiden victory celebration event, which was widely publicised as a “free entry” programme. Investigators revealed that RCB management failed to obtain mandatory police permission for the event and advertised free passes, leading to uncontrolled crowds.

Despite knowing the venue could not safely accommodate the expected turnout, all four stakeholders went ahead with the event. The report severely criticised their negligence, calling it a total breakdown of planning and accountability.

The police department was found to have deployed only 79 officers inside the venue, with no staff stationed outside to manage crowd overflow. Crucially, there was no ambulance on standby. Shockingly, the city’s police commissioner was not informed of the stampede until two hours after the incident, indicating a serious communication failure.

The inquiry also involved examination of CCTV footage, ground inspections, and over 100 witness statements, including those from injured attendees and the families of victims. After a month-long investigation, the report concludes that poor coordination, duty failure, and disregard for safety protocols by all four parties directly led to the tragedy.