Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru

Bengaluru, July 13: The stampede that turned Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) IPL victory celebrations into a deadly tragedy has taken a dramatic turn, with a government-commissioned investigation uncovering serious lapses.

The inquiry report, submitted by retired High Court Justice Michael D'Cunha, has revealed explosive details, placing direct blame on RCB, event management firm DNA Entertainment, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) for the incident that killed 11 and injured over 47 people.

The report was officially submitted to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at his Vidhana Soudha office on Friday in two sealed volumes. It marks the culmination of a month-long inquiry into one of the most devastating public tragedies in recent memory for Bengaluru.

On June 4, lacs of RCB fans swarmed the vicinity of the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in central Bengaluru to celebrate the team’s historic first-ever IPL title win. But what began as jubilation quickly descended into chaos, as an uncontrolled crowd surge led to a fatal stampede. Within minutes, 11 lives were lost and scores were left injured.

In the aftermath, the state government launched a multi-tier investigation, including an internal probe by the Deputy Commissioner, a criminal inquiry by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), and most crucially, an independent investigation led by Justice Michael D'Cunha.

Justice D'Cunha’s report makes damning revelations. It attributes the stampede to gross negligence, unprofessional planning, and a complete disregard for public safety by the Royal Challengers Bangalore team management, the event organisers DNA Entertainment Networks, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association.

The team management is accused of failing to ensure basic crowd control during the trophy celebration. According to the report, there was no structured planning, no coordination with civic authorities, and no real anticipation of the turnout.

DNA Entertainment, the event management firm, was found to have handled the event poorly. The company neglected basic safety protocols and permitted entry far beyond capacity limits. Their failure to create designated entry and exit routes significantly contributed to the bottleneck that triggered the stampede.

The KSCA, which governs the stadium, was also held responsible for failing to implement safety measures and properly prepare the venue and surrounding areas for an event of this magnitude.

The report states that no detailed crowd management plan was in place despite the expected attendance of over 1.5 lac fans. Shockingly, even basic infrastructure such as barricading, queue systems, medical aid stations, and emergency exits were either missing or grossly inadequate.

“There was a complete breakdown of communication between organisers, the police, and stadium authorities,” the report noted. “No preventive measures were taken despite visible signs of a developing crowd surge.”

The role of the police has also come under scrutiny. While a police presence was visible, the report finds that officers failed to act proactively. Warnings of overcrowding were ignored, and no attempt was made to reroute or disperse the crowd in a safe manner. 

he lack of coordination between the police, event organisers, and local authorities has been highlighted as a critical failure that directly led to the loss of life.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who received the report, is expected to review its recommendations with key departments. Sources suggest that disciplinary and possibly legal action may follow against those found responsible. Public outrage has been mounting, with families of the victims demanding justice and accountability.

The government, under pressure, is expected to announce strict policy changes to prevent such disasters at mass gatherings in the future.

This incident has shaken not only Bengaluru but also the broader sporting and entertainment community. Experts say it should serve as a wake-up call to all organisers of large-scale public events.

While fans came to celebrate their team’s long-awaited victory, they instead witnessed one of the darkest days in the city’s recent history. Justice D'Cunha’s report brings much-needed clarity, but also raises tough questions about public safety, responsibility, and the cost of negligence.