Bengaluru: In the aftermath of the tragic stampede at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium that left 11 dead during Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) IPL victory celebration, the Karnataka government has launched a sweeping crackdown, suspending senior police officials and initiating a high-level judicial inquiry.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, speaking after an emergency cabinet meeting, announced that all individuals responsible—spanning from RCB’s management to the event organizers—will face arrest. A commission led by retired Karnataka High Court judge Michael D. Cunha has been appointed to lead the inquiry and uncover how gross negligence led to the catastrophe.
Among those suspended are City Police Commissioner B. Dayananda, the Additional Commissioner overseeing the stadium zone, the DCP (Central Division), ACP of Cubbon Park, the Cubbon Park Station House Officer, and several other senior officials. The drastic action comes amid public outrage and political pressure over what many have described as a preventable tragedy.
The state had initially declared a magisterial probe, but the intensity of the backlash—especially after the opposition slammed the government for administrative failure—led to the upgrade to a judicial commission. Notably, the Karnataka High Court and Bengaluru Police had already taken suo motu cognizance of the incident.
Meanwhile, arrests are expected soon. Police have booked RCB officials, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), and event handlers DNA Entertainment under various charges of negligence and failure to ensure public safety. Among those likely to face detention are senior figures from all three organizations.
Adding another layer to the controversy, a police report has surfaced revealing that law enforcement had warned RCB management and the government against holding the celebration on a weekday. The police advised scheduling the event for Sunday, expressing concern over the large, emotionally charged crowd expected on a weekday evening. However, RCB insisted on holding the celebration on Wednesday, citing the tight travel schedules of foreign players.
Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had earlier stated that the police could not be solely blamed for the disaster. However, mounting criticism from civil society and the political opposition forced the government to act decisively.
The stampede, which turned a jubilant cricketing milestone into a public tragedy, has raised serious questions about crowd control, event licensing, and institutional accountability. With a judicial commission now in place and arrests underway, the state aims to assure the public that such negligence will not go unpunished.