11 people died, and 40-plus people were injured in a stampede. Who is liable for this grievous incident that occurred? Is it the police, the government, the RCB management, the players or the public that showed up?
INTRODUCTION
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has won the maiden IPL title trophy on 3rd June 2025 after an intense 18-year wait since the inception of the IPL that took place at Narender Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, in Gujarat. The 3rd of June is going to be a well-remembered date for RCB fandom, while the 4th of June is a shattering tragedy.
As the team landed in Bengaluru, they paid a ceremonial visit to the Vidhan Soudha to meet Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Shortly after the win, on June 4th RCB through its official account on ‘X’, tweeted about the conducting of a victory parade which will be later followed by celebrations at the Chinnaswamy stadium which is the home ground of RCB. [1]
The parade was lined up from Vidhana Soudha to Chinnaswamy Stadium, timed at 3:30 pm. However, even before the champions arrived at 3:00 pm, huge crowds of people swarmed across the way, causing a road blockage. All 13 gates of the stadium were lined with crowds of people waiting in long queues for scheduled entry, although what initially was a pass-based entry was turned into a free entry to all cricket fans, a move which triggered chaos were thousands of people barged in to witness the already overcrowded gathering. There were barricades set up, and when this wave of people entered, the barricades tipped over, causing people to fall onto one another, resulting in a stampede.
Dozens of footwear pieces were seen scattered all over the ground, marking a horrendous stampede. The time was 5 pm, and by now it was clear that there was huge devastation. Initially, 3 were dead, but later the number rose to 11, causing fear amongst the fans. Among all this mess, the celebrations inside continued.[2]
IN THE MADNESS OF FANDOM, WHO IS TO BLAME WHEN SAFETY CRUMBLES?
Liability in the Age of Celebration
What began as a celebration moment for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) soon turned to chaos and tragedy. In just minutes, joy gave way to terror, raising a key legal issue: who is liable when safety gives way to unrestrained fan enthusiasm? The RCB victory parade stampede is not just a matter of crowd management gone wrong — it is a classic case of thwarted safety planning, bungling coordination, and careless foresight. With all those thousands flocking in to join the open jubilation, the facilities which were supposed to sustain their exuberance instead collapsed under the weight.
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?
The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) franchise, as the official host of the event, holds significant responsibility for the chaos that occurred. Declaring free public entry without proper crowd management measures shows a lack of foresight. It raises important questions. Was a risk assessment done before allowing everyone in? Did the franchise consider the possible legal and physical consequences of changing its entry policy?
Additionally, the event management agency and private security contractors had a clear duty to protect the spectators. The use of weak barricades, a lack of guided access points, and no emergency exits indicate a failure in planning and execution. This is not just an operational mistake; it could be seen as negligence under tort law. The police and the Karnataka state government share responsibility as well, especially since the parade started from the sensitive area of Vidhana Soudha and the Chief Minister was also present. Their involvement raises questions about whether adequate emergency protocols were in place. If they underestimated the crowd size or failed to address predictable risks, they could be held responsible.
The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), which manages Chinnaswamy Stadium, is also to blame for not ensuring effective crowd control and evacuation measures. These are duties required by law and contract. Finally, while the BCCI and the IPL Governing Council were not at the venue, they are responsible for maintaining safety standards across the league. Their apparent lack of oversight raises concerns: Were they watching closely enough, or did they overlook clear risks?[3]
Under Indian law, several legal provisions govern incidents like the RCB stampede. Section 304A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) punishes death caused by negligence. It holds individuals or organisations responsible when a lack of reasonable care leads to fatal outcomes, such as stampedes. Additionally, the law of torts imposes civil liability for failing to uphold duty, including vicarious liability, where organisations can be held accountable for the actions or inactions of their agents. Not addressing foreseeable risks, like overcrowding or poor crowd control, strengthens civil claims.[4]
The Disaster Management Act, 2005, requires proper planning and implementation of safety protocols for mass gatherings. [5]This makes risk assessments and preparedness legally enforceable. The Model Guidelines for Crowd Management from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) set national standards for entry regulations, barricading, emergency response, and exit strategies during public events. Not following these guidelines can lead to criminal liability and compensation claims from victims or their families.[6]
PRECEDENTS: CROWD DISASTERS & ACCOUNTABILITY
- ALLU ARJUN STAMPEDE CASE
In December 2024, a stampede happened during the premiere of Pushpa 2 in Hyderabad after actor Allu Arjun made a surprise appearance. The sudden surge of the crowd resulted in the tragic death of a woman and injuries to her son. A case was filed against Arjun, his security team, and the theatre for negligence. He was arrested and later released on bail with conditions. Authorities identified significant failures in crowd control and safety measures at the venue. The incident stirred public anger, and Arjun, along with the film team, offered ₹2 crore to the victim’s family as compensation.[7]
- KUMBH MELA STAMPEDE
During the early hours of 29 January 2025, a crowd surge occurred in the Sangam area at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. As millions gathered for the Mauni Amavasya “holy dip,” a barricade collapsed, causing panic, suffocation, and a deadly crush. Official reports state there are 30 deaths and around 60 injuries, but some sources indicate the numbers could be higher. This tragedy highlighted serious failures in crowd management at the world’s largest religious gathering.[8]
CURRENT SCENARIO OF THE RCB STAMPEDE
Following the tragic stampede outside Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4, 2025, that resulted in 11 deaths and injured over 40 during an RCB victory celebration, the Cubbon Park Police filed a formal FIR. This case falls under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the new criminal code. It specifically cites Section 105, which addresses culpable homicide not amounting to murder, along with other provisions related to negligence and public safety failures. The FIR names the RCB management, officials from the KSCA (Karnataka State Cricket Association), and DNA Entertainment, the firm responsible for organising the celebration.
The Karnataka High Court took notice of the incident on its own, viewing the stampede as a major public safety issue. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed, requiring the state government to submit detailed reports on actions taken. The High Court also requested details about police permissions, crowd control measures, and emergency response plans. Separately, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issued notices to the Karnataka Chief Secretary and the DGP, asking them to provide an action report within four weeks. In terms of law enforcement, four individuals were arrested. This included Nikhil Sosale, the RCB marketing head, and three executives from DNA Entertainment. However, the Karnataka High Court later granted them interim bail due to procedural issues during the arrests and a lack of necessity for custody. The bail conditions required them to provide ₹1 lakh bonds, surrender their passports, avoid contact with witnesses, and cooperate fully with the investigation.
Meanwhile, a magisterial inquiry led by Deputy Commissioner G. Jagadeesha is in progress. A preliminary report will be submitted soon. This inquiry aims to identify failures in permissions, barricading, and coordination between the police and event organisers. At the same time, RCB and DNA Entertainment have approached the High Court to quash the FIRs. They argue that the tragedy stemmed from police failure to provide adequate security, rather than organisational negligence. The case is currently under judicial review, with several investigations ongoing by the CID, the district magistrate, and the judiciary. No final responsibility has been assigned yet. However, the incident has ignited a broad discussion about event safety, legal responsibility, and crowd management at celebrity-led gatherings.[9]
CONCLUSION
The tragic RCB stampede is not an isolated incident; it is part of a worrying trend of crowd disasters across India. These events include religious gatherings like the Kumbh Mela, movie premieres, and sports events. India ranks among the top nations for stampede-related deaths, revealing serious issues in event planning, risk assessment, and safety enforcement. This ongoing failure in crowd management needs immediate reform. Event organisers and local authorities must strictly follow the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and the Model Guidelines for Crowd Management. They should conduct mandatory risk assessments, employ trained staff, establish clear entry and exit points, and implement real-time emergency response systems at large gatherings. Accountability should go beyond mere arrests; organisers, local officials, and enforcement agencies must all share responsibility.
Until crowd safety becomes a legal, logistical, and moral priority, celebrations will still carry the risk of becoming tragedies. India must act now to prevent the next avoidable disaster.
Author(s) Name: Umesh Bhumarapu (Dsnlu (Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University))
References:
[1] RCBTweets, ‘RCB Unbox Event 2024: Thank You for the Love, Bengaluru’ (X, 17 March 2024) https://x.com/RCBTweets/status/1930198926457467358 accessed 17 June 2025
[2] Firstpost, ‘Bengaluru Stampede: What Led to Chaos at RCB Unbox Event and Who’s to Blame?’ (Firstpost, 17 March 2024) https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/bengaluru-stampede-rcb-karnataka-govt-chinnaswamy-cricket-stadium-13894605.html accessed 17 June 2025.
[3] Firstpost (n 1)
[4] The Indian Penal Code 1860, s 304A
[5] Disaster Management Act 2005 (India)
[6] National Disaster Management Authority, Managing Crowd at Events and Venues of Mass Gathering: A Guide for State Governments, Local Authorities, Administrators and Organisers (May 2014) https://ndma.gov.in/sites/default/files/PDF/Reports/managingcrowdsguide.pdf accessed 17 June 2025
[7] ‘An Avoidable Tragedy on the Pushpa 2 Stampede’, The Hindu (Hyderabad, 5 December 2024) https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/an-avoidable-tragedy-on-the-pushpa-2-stampede/article69029995.ece accessed 17 June 2025
[8] ‘Kumbh Mela stampede: 5 times when deadly crowd crushes caused tragedy took lives at religious event since 1954’, LiveMint (New Delhi, 29 January 2025) https://www.livemint.com/news/india/kumbh-mela-stampede-5-times-when-deadly-crowd-crushes-caused-tragedy-took-lives-at-religious-event-since-1954-11738139533814.html accessed 18 June 2025
[9] ‘Bengaluru stampede report may be submitted next week’, The Times of India (Bengaluru, 18 June 2025) https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/bengaluru-stampede-report-may-be-submitted-next-week/articleshow/121937331.cms accessed 18 June 2025
