Karnataka cricket body denies role in RCB event stampede, blames state, organisers

The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) distanced itself from the stampede that occurred during the RCB felicitation event, blaming the state government, RCB, and event organisers for crowd mismanagement. It claimed no role in planning or executing the event.

In Short

• KSCA denies role in RCB celebration stampede
• Blames Karnataka government, RCB, and event organisers
• Cites police failure in managing crowd

The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) distanced itself from the chaos that erupted during the RCB victory celebrations, squarely blaming the state government, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), and event organisers for the mismanagement that led to a stampede outside M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru which claimed 11 lives.

In a statement, KSCA clarified that it had no role in organising the felicitation event and was neither involved in gate nor crowd management. “The decision to hold the event was taken by the government. It was conducted at Vidhana Soudha, not at Chinnaswamy Stadium,” the association said, adding that its involvement with the stadium is limited to venue rental and cricket-related affairs.

“The celebration was facilitated by the government itself, in the presence of the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, cabinet ministers, and senior police officials,” the cricket body added, underscoring that the event had official sanction at the highest levels.

KSCA argued that the unfortunate incident was an accident caused by a sudden surge in the crowd and that no malicious intent could be attributed to its members. “The petitioners cannot be held responsible for the lapses in gate and crowd control, which were clearly under the purview of RCB, the organisers, and the police,” it said.

The matter is already being addressed by the Karnataka High Court through a suo motu case. The cricket body called it a “serious failure of justice” by the police and government to name its officials as accused.

The association also pointed out that the police department’s own suspension orders blamed law enforcement for failing to manage the crowd, and warned against using KSCA as a scapegoat. “The police cannot victimise the petitioners for faults that are clearly not theirs,” it added.

This comes after the Cubbon Park Police registered an FIR against RCB, the event management firm DNA Entertainment Private Limited, and the KSCA.

Office bearers of Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) earlier today filed a writ petition in the High Court, seeking to quash the First Information Report (FIR) registered against them.