The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has held RCB (Royal Challengers Bangalore) responsible for the stampede outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on 4 June. The team suddenly announced the victory procession on social media without police permission, which led to a crowd of millions. 11 people died in this stampede.
The tribunal said in its comment, ‘Therefore prima facie it appears that RCB is responsible for gathering a crowd of about three to five lakh people. RCB did not take proper permission or consent from the police. Suddenly information was posted on social media and people gathered as a result.
The tribunal termed the announcement of a sudden ceremony by RCB as ‘dislocation’. The order said, ‘RCB suddenly created such chaos without any prior permission. It cannot be expected that in only 12 hours the police will be able to make all the necessary arrangements according to the Police Act or other rules.
The RCB announced the event of a victory procession on the next day of its first IPL victory i.e. June 4 on social media. The tribunal defended the role of the police and said, ‘Policemen are also humans. He is neither ‘God’, nor ‘magician’, and he has no magical device like ‘Aladdin’s lamp’ so that he can fulfill any desire by turning his finger. ‘
The tribunal also said that the police were not given enough time for proper preparations. On 4 June 2025, the police could not make necessary arrangements due to lack of time. The police did not get enough time. The comment was made during the hearing of a petition filed by a police officer from Bangalore against his suspension.
It was also told in the order that a large number of people were already present on the night of 3 and 4 June, which the police were busy in handling. Along with this, another program was also being organized by the state government in Vidhana Soudha, which put more pressure on the police force.
The tribunal concluded that the police should get adequate time and in advance to control such a mob and make necessary arrangements, which was not given in this case.
RCB management was not available to comment on this development. Earlier, allegations were made against RCB and Karnataka State Cricket Association in connection with this incident, due to which KSCA Secretary A.K. Shankar and Treasurer Jairam resigned.