Stampede: RCB, event management agency officials in police custody, taken for medical tests

BENGALURU: Following the death of 11 people in a stampede on Wednesday near the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, some officials of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), DNA Entertainment Networks (event management company) have been taken into custody and were taken for medical tests on Friday.

Those who have been arrested include Sumanth, Kiran Kumar and Sunil Mathew of DNA Entertainment Networks and Nikhil of RCB. The stampede occurred M Chinnaswamy stadium on June 4 as a huge crowd of nearly three lakh people had gathered to witness the victory celebration of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, which won the Indian Premier League (IPL) trophy.

#WATCH | Bengaluru, Karnataka: Those taken into custody in connection with the Bengaluru stampede case, being taken for a medical examination. pic.twitter.com/Y9yXRFkFm3

— ANI (@ANI) June 6, 2025

The Cubbon Park police filed an FIR against the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), among others, in connection with the stampede. In response, KSCA has filed a writ petition in the High Court seeking the quashing of FIRs filed against it.

KSCA board of directors, including president Raghuram Bhat, Secretary A Shankar, Treasurer E S Jairam have appealed for cancellation of the FIR.

Following the stampede at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, the government suspended multiple IPS officers, including Bengaluru city police Commissioner B Dayananda. Senior IPS officer Seemant Kumar Singh took charge as the city police commissioner earlier today.

Minister Priyank Kharge on Friday addressed the recent stampede incident in Bengaluru, stating that the officers responsible have been suspended and a magisterial enquiry has been ordered to investigate the matter.

#WATCH | Bengaluru Stampede | Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge says, “The officers who are responsible have been suspended. We have made no scapegoats… A magisterial enquiry has been ordered and our next action will be according to the findings of the enquiry… BJP wants the… pic.twitter.com/lnA1DJNiGw

— ANI (@ANI) June 6, 2025

Speaking to reporters, Priyank Kharge said, “The officers who are responsible have been suspended. We have made no scapegoats… A magisterial enquiry has been ordered and our next action will be according to the findings of the enquiry…”

“BJP likes to politicise everything. The same BJP, when told that a victory parade on an open bus in such a short time was not possible due to a lack of time to make arrangements, said that we were insulting the team. Now that post is deleted. BJP’s intention of politicising everything is not healthy,” he further said.

He added that the Chief Minister has taken responsibility for the incident and assured that corrective measures will be implemented. Kharge also accused the BJP of politicising the tragedy. (ANI)