Karnataka HC bars coercive action against KSCA in interim order over stadium stampede FIR

In a significant legal development following the tragic stampede at Bengaluru's M Chinnaswamy Stadium, key members of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) have approached the Karnataka High Court to nullify the First Information Report (FIR) filed against them. The petition was filed by KSCA President Raghu Ram Bhat, Secretary A Shankar, and Treasurer ES Jayaram, who have expressed apprehension about possible arrest and requested judicial relief.

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The trio submitted a writ petition on Friday, seeking the court's intervention to quash the FIR registered by the Cubbon Park Police. The police had filed the FIR in response to the fatal incident on June 4, which occurred outside the stadium during a public event organized to celebrate Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Indian Premier League title win. The unfortunate stampede led to the deaths of eleven individuals and injuries to several others.

In response to the petitioners’ concerns, a single-judge bench led by Justice Krishna Kumar scheduled an urgent hearing and, in an interim order, directed the state authorities to refrain from taking any coercive measures against the KSCA office bearers until further notice.

The FIR, filed a day after the incident, named not just the KSCA but also event organizers DNA Entertainment Private Limited and the RCB franchise. The FIR came in the wake of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s directive to arrest those allegedly responsible, citing gross negligence in managing the crowd.

This interim protection offers temporary relief to KSCA members as legal proceedings continue, even as public and political pressure mounts for accountability in the tragic episode.