RCB, DNA Get Interim Relief in Chinnaswamy Stampede Case; No Arrests Till July 8, Rules Karnataka HC

The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday barred the Bengaluru police from arresting or taking any coercive action against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) officials and representatives of DNA, the event management firm involved in organizing the June 4 IPL celebration event at Chinnaswamy Stadium, which ended in a deadly stampede.

Justice S R Krishna Kumar passed the interim order while hearing petitions filed by Royal Challengers Sports Private Limited (RCSPL) and DNA Entertainment Networks, both of whom are facing criminal charges in connection with the tragic incident.

Only One FIR Will Be Investigated

The Court recorded the submission of the Special Public Prosecutor (SPP), who informed that while multiple FIRs were filed, only the one being probed by the Crime Investigation Department (CID) will be pursued. The two additional FIRs - Crime No. 124/2025 and 125/2025 - will not be acted upon for now as they are linked to the same incident.

"Since the investigation is underway, the police will not proceed further under the additional FIRs, as their contents and context are identical to the main case," the Court said in its order.

The Court instructed both RCB and DNA to fully cooperate with the ongoing CID investigation. The matter has been posted for the next hearing on July 8, 2025.

11 Dead, Dozens Injured in Stadium Stampede

The tragic stampede took place when over 5 lakh people rushed to the Chinnaswamy Stadium to attend RCB's victory celebration after winning the IPL title for the first time in 18 years. The stadium, however, can only accommodate around 33,000 people, leading to chaos and a massive crowd surge.

The incident resulted in the death of 11 people and injuries to 56 others, sparking widespread criticism and demands for accountability from both the organisers and civic authorities.

Blame Game Between State and Organisers

While the Karnataka government blamed the event organisers for conducting the function without proper clearance, the organisers alleged that state authorities failed to prepare adequately, despite being informed in advance about the expected crowd.

Following the tragedy, criminal cases were registered against officials of RCB, DNA, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA). Several top officials, including RCB marketing head Nikhil Sosale, were arrested and later granted interim bail. The KSCA has already received interim protection from the court.

Suo Motu Case Initiated by High Court

In a separate move, the High Court has also initiated a suo motu PIL (Public Interest Litigation) in the matter. A bench led by Acting Chief Justice V Kameswar Rao and Justice C M Joshi has impleaded KSCA, RCB, and DNA as parties to this case.

The bench indicated that it would soon appoint an amicus curiae (friend of the court) to assist in examining what led to the tragedy and to suggest preventive measures. The State government has already submitted a status report in a sealed cover, as directed earlier.

What's Next?

RCB and DNA officials will not face arrests or police action till the next hearing on July 8.

The CID probe will proceed under the main FIR.

The High Court's suo motu PIL will also come up for hearing on June 23.