The report emphasised that the organisers never formally sought police permission in the prescribed format as mandated by the Licensing and Controlling of Assemblies and Processions (Bangalore City) Order, 2009
The report concluded that RCB, DNA Networks, and KSCA ignored standard procedures and safety measures, leading to violations and potential public safety risks. File Pic/AFP
A report on the stampede at the Chinnaswamy stadium that left 11 people dead has blamed the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), their event management partner M/s DNA Networks Private Ltd, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) for unilaterally organising RCB's massive victory parade and celebration without prior permission or furnishing mandatory details to city authorities, reported the PTI.
The report has been submitted to the Karnataka High Court, government sources said.
According to the report, at about 6.30 pm, just hours before the IPL final between RCB and Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Ahmedabad, the KSCA on behalf of DNA Networks Pvt Ltd submitted a letter of intimation to the Cubbon Park police station, according to the PTI.
"Should RCB emerge victorious in the tournament, the management of RCB/DNA Entertainment Networks Private Limited intends to plan potential victory parades around the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, culminating in victory celebrations at the stadium. This was in the nature of an intimation, not a requisition for permission as required under the law," the report said, the news agency reported.
However, the police denied permission due to the lack of critical information, including projected crowd size, event logistics, and crowd control measures. The proposal was also made on short notice, which precluded due processing.
Despite it, the RCB unilaterally proceeded on June 4, announcing a public 'Victory Parade' from Vidhana Soudha to Chinnaswamy Stadium via multiple social media posts starting at 7.01 am, as per the PTI.
A final post at 3.14 pm announced that the parade would begin at 5.00 pm and would be followed by stadium celebrations.
The post was the first to mention that free passes were available online, but it came after large crowds had already started gathering.
The posts garnered widespread attention, with the first four updates accumulating viewership figures of 16 lakh, 4.26 lakh, 7.6 lakh, and 17 lakh respectively.
This crowd estimate is supported by BMRCL ridership on June 4, which saw 9.66 lakh commuters compared to a daily average of six lakh.
"Therefore, including those who travelled on foot, used public transport, and private means on June 4, the estimated gathering would be well beyond three lakh individuals," the statement said, reported the PTI.
The report emphasised that the organisers never formally sought police permission in the prescribed format as mandated by the Licensing and Controlling of Assemblies and Processions (Bangalore City) Order, 2009.
It clarified that merely submitting an intimation does not amount to seeking permission, particularly for events involving large public gatherings in central Bengaluru.
Authorities claimed that the essential details such as the number of participants, assembly point, timing, names and contact details of responsible organisers, and plans for traffic and crowd control, were entirely missing.
This lack of information prevented police from assessing the event's scale or planning adequate safety measures.
Furthermore, there was no signage or loudspeakers for public instructions, no trained staff for crowd management at entry gates and within seating areas, and no prior request for loudspeaker use or police bandobast, according to the PTI.
The organisers also failed to pay for police deployment, as mandated by the Government Order dated May 22, 2019, the report said.
Despite the absence of coordination or approvals, the Bengaluru City Police implemented multiple measures to manage the situation on the ground.
A meeting was convened at 10 am on June 4 at the office of the Joint Commissioner of Police, where traffic and law enforcement planning was finalised, PTI reported.
A total of 654 traffic personnel were deployed, including 4 DCPs, 6 ACPs, 23 PIs, 57 PSIs, 104 ASIs, and 462 constables.
The route taken by the RCB team, from HAL to Taj West End, Vidhana Soudha, and finally Chinnaswamy Stadium, was regulated to minimise disruption.
A traffic advisory and map were released through press, social media, and FM radio, advising the public to avoid central areas and use Metro or other public transport due to limited parking. Nine diversion points were created and 125 barricades installed with an additional 11 barricading zones added as a precaution. Local schools were requested to close by noon, as per the PTI.
BMTC deployed its Sarathi teams, and the E-Path app was activated for ambulance management. A dedicated control room monitored traffic movements throughout the event.
Eight major sectors were identified where police personnel were stationed to regulate and manage the public.
The report concluded that RCB, DNA Networks, and KSCA ignored standard procedures and safety measures, leading to violations and potential public safety risks.
Their failure to obtain permission and coordinate with authorities ahead of time left the city administration with no option but to respond reactively to an event that had already gained momentum through social media mobilisation.
"Recognising the need for accountability within the law enforcement hierarchy, the government took action against police officials on June 5, 2025.
A Government Order suspended five police officers, including three IPS officers of significant rank: the Commissioner of Police, the Inspector General and Additional Commissioner of Police, and the Deputy Commissioner of Police, alongside the Assistant Commissioner of Police for Cubbon Park and the Police Inspector of Cubbon Park," the report said. PTI GMSA report submitted to the High Court has blamed Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), their event partner DNA Networks Pvt Ltd, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) for organising a large victory parade without proper permission. The stampede at Chinnaswamy Stadium led to 11 deaths, as per a PTI news report.
According to government sources, the organisers did not give the required details to the police or follow legal procedures. On the day of the IPL final between RCB and Punjab Kings in Ahmedabad, KSCA sent a letter to Cubbon Park Police at around 6:30 pm, saying they might plan a parade if RCB won. However, this was just an intimation, not a formal request for permission.
The police denied permission because the organisers didn’t share key details like expected crowd size, event plan, or safety measures. The request also came at the last minute, giving no time for proper planning.
Despite this, on 4 June, RCB announced a public parade from Vidhana Soudha to Chinnaswamy Stadium via social media. The first post went out at 7:01 am and a final update at 3:14 pm said free passes were available. But by then, large crowds had already gathered.
The posts got huge attention, with the first four posts getting views of 16 lakh, 4.26 lakh, 7.6 lakh, and 17 lakh. On that day, Metro (BMRCL) saw 9.66 lakh passengers, compared to a usual 6 lakh, indicating a huge public turnout -- estimated at over 3 lakh people.
The report pointed out that the organisers never followed the rules laid out in the Licensing and Controlling of Assemblies and Processions (Bangalore City) Order, 2009. They didn’t submit the mandatory event details such as time, place, organisers' names, safety plans, or ask for police support.
There were no loudspeakers or signs to guide the crowd, no trained staff at the gates or inside the stadium, and no prior request for police support or loudspeaker use. The organisers also didn’t pay for police deployment, as required by government rules from May 2019.
Despite having no formal approval, Bengaluru Police tried to manage the situation. A meeting was held at 10 am on 4 June to plan traffic and crowd control. In total, 654 traffic police were deployed, including senior officers.
RCB’s parade route -- from HAL to Taj West End, then Vidhana Soudha and the stadium -- was managed to avoid chaos. Police issued traffic advisories and advised the public to use public transport. Nine traffic diversions were set up, and 125 barricades were placed.
Other services like BMTC, ambulance teams, and control rooms were also mobilised to handle the crowd. Police covered eight key sectors to manage public safety.
The report said that RCB, DNA Networks, and KSCA ignored laws and safety norms, which led to major violations and risks. Their failure to coordinate with city authorities forced the administration to act only after the crowd had already built up due to online announcements, reported the PTI.
As a result, on June 5, 2025, the government suspended five police officers for not handling the event properly. These included three top IPS officers -- the Police Commissioner, Inspector General/Additional Commissioner, and Deputy Commissioner -- as well as the Assistant Commissioner and Inspector of Cubbon Park.
(with PTI inputs)
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