Karnataka govt approves criminal case against RCB, KSCA, and police officers

The Karnataka Cabinet has granted in-principle approval to file a criminal case against IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), and several police officials. The move comes after the Cabinet accepted the findings of the Justice Michael D’Cunha Commission, which was constituted to investigate lapses during the conduct of IPL matches at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.

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According to the commission's report, there were serious violations of legal norms and procedural failures on the part of both the cricket authorities and law enforcement. The report highlights that the police officers failed in their duties by showing undue favour, neglecting protocol, and not ensuring compliance with standard procedures during the matches. These lapses were classified as criminal negligence.

The D’Cunha report has also recommended that criminal proceedings be initiated against specific police officials and action be taken against them departmentally. The state government is now exploring the legal basis for filing criminal cases under relevant IPC sections.

While the Cabinet has approved the recommendations in principle, a final decision on the scope and timeline for legal action will be taken in an upcoming Cabinet meeting. This move signals the government’s intent to ensure transparency and accountability in public events involving large institutions.