The tragedy unfolded after RCB announced a victory parade to celebrate their maiden IPL title, drawing an overwhelming crowd of nearly 2.5 lakh fans to the MG Road and Cubbon Road areas. The event, which also included a fan engagement programme at the stadium, spiralled into chaos
The RCB management has so far refrained from commenting on the Tribunal’s findings (Pic: AFP/IPL)
The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) on Tuesday ruled that the IPL 2025 champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru are 'prima facie responsible' for the catastrophic stampede that occurred outside Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4, claiming the lives of 11 people.
The tragedy unfolded after RCB announced a victory parade to celebrate their maiden IPL title, drawing an overwhelming crowd of nearly 2.5 lakh fans to the MG Road and Cubbon Road areas. The event, which also included a fan engagement programme at the stadium, spiralled into chaos due to what authorities have described as insufficient planning and lack of coordination with local law enforcement.
In its strongly worded observation, the Tribunal noted, "...prima facie it appears that the RCB is responsible for the gathering of about three to five lakh people. The RCB did not take the appropriate permission or consent from the Police."
The CAT noted that RCB had posted about the parade and celebrations on its social media platforms only on the morning of June 4. This, the Tribunal remarked, left the police department with virtually no time to put in place crowd management measures for such an enormous turnout.
“Because of shortage of time on 04.06.2026, the Police was unable to do the appropriate arrangements. Sufficient time was not given to the Police. Suddenly, the RCB created the aforesaid type of nuisance without any prior permission,” the CAT observed in its ruling.
In an emotionally charged comment on the challenges faced by the police, the Tribunal added, “Police personnel are also human beings. They are neither "God" (Bhagwan) nor Magician and also not having the magic powers like "Alladdin ka Chirag" which was able to fulfil any wish only by rubbing a finger.”
The RCB management has so far refrained from commenting on the Tribunal’s findings.
This development comes in the wake of criminal charges being pressed earlier against both RCB and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) in connection with the tragic incident. The fallout has already seen the resignation of KSCA secretary A. Shankar and treasurer Jayaram, amid mounting public outrage and demands for accountability.
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