Bengaluru Stampede Tragedy: Karnataka Govt Blames RCB, Virat Kohli for Hosting Victory Parade Without Permission

Bengaluru, July 17: In a shocking development, the Karnataka government has officially blamed Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and its star player Virat Kohli for the tragic stampede that occurred outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4, leaving 11 people dead and over 50 injured. The government’s investigation report, made public following a Karnataka High Court directive, states that the franchise failed to obtain proper permissions before organizing the massive victory parade and celebrations.

According to the report, RCB’s parade and celebration plans—meant to celebrate their maiden IPL title—were carried out without formal police approval. Although the franchise informed the authorities on June 3 about the parade, the communication was merely an intimation and not an official request as mandated by law. “No application in the prescribed format was submitted, and hence no permission was granted by the Cubbon Park Police Station,” the report said.

Despite this, RCB made multiple social media announcements, starting early morning on June 4, inviting fans to a free victory parade from Vidhana Soudha to Chinnaswamy Stadium. The posts, including a widely circulated video of Virat Kohli inviting fans, received over 44 lakh views and attracted a crowd estimated to exceed 3,00,000 people—nearly ten times the stadium's capacity.

The report states that while fans rushed to the stadium anticipating open access, a social media post clarifying that entry required limited free passes was issued only at 3:14 PM—just before the event began. This sudden change led to confusion and unrest among the crowd, many of whom had already reached the venue in high anticipation.

With key entry gates closed or poorly managed, sections of the crowd forced their way through Gates 1, 2, and 21. Sporadic stampedes were also reported at Gates 2A, 6, 7, 15, 17, 18, and 20. The report criticizes the complete lack of planning by the organizers—RCB, KSCA (Karnataka State Cricket Association), and event agency DNA—for failing to anticipate crowd turnout, arrange for adequate security, and manage gate access.

Police forces, the report notes, responded quickly to control the situation, but by then, chaos had already broken out.

The state government had initially requested the Karnataka High Court to keep the investigation report confidential, citing sensitive details. However, the court rejected the plea, ruling that there was "no legal justification" to withhold the findings, especially given the magnitude of the tragedy.

The report paints a grim picture of poor coordination, lack of basic protocols, and over-reliance on social media outreach without ensuring on-ground preparedness. With over 9.66 lakh passengers using Bengaluru Metro on June 4—far above the usual 6 lakh—it was clear that the city’s infrastructure was stretched thin.

The government is now mulling stricter regulations on public gatherings and has indicated possible action against those responsible, including RCB officials and associated event managers.

The tragedy has left the city in mourning and raised serious questions about crowd control, accountability, and the responsibilities of celebrity-led events in urban centres.