Bengaluru Stampede: Karnataka High Court Orders Disclosure Of Report To RCB, KSCA

The Karnataka High Court has ordered the state government to release the stampede report concerning the stampede outside M. Chinnaswamy Stadium incident that took place on June 4. The court ordered disclosure to the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), and DNA Entertainment Networks.

High Court Mandates State Report Release

The Karnataka High Court ordered the state government to share the status report on the June 4 stampede which occurred outside Bengaluru's M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. The report must go to the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), and DNA Entertainment Networks.

The state initially submitted this report in a 'sealed cover', resisting its release to these parties. The court, however, ruled that the reasons offered for confidentiality were invalid. Supreme Court guidelines permit confidentiality only for issues of national security, privacy, or wider public interest; none of these applied here.

State Arguments Against Disclosure Rejected

Advocate General Shashi Kiran Shetty, representing the state government, argued that releasing the stampede report could influence ongoing magisterial and judicial inquiries into the incident. He suggested its contents might affect the conclusions of justice administrators.

The court dismissed these objections as 'unfounded', noting that experienced, independent officials were unlikely to be swayed by the report. The justices insisted such secrecy was 'unjustified', and transparency remained crucial, especially because the case involved loss of life and accountability questions.

Judicial Reasoning Favours Openness

The Karnataka High Court referred to a 2023 Supreme Court judgment, Madhyamam Broadcasting Limited versus Union of India. The court underscored that withholding the Bengaluru stampede report would undermine transparency and fairness.

It reminded the state that court proceedings were initiated 'suo motu' (on its own motion) to uncover the tragedy's causes, determine its preventability, and identify future preventive measures. Giving key parties access to the report, which details events following RCB's IPL victory celebration, would foster a more accurate understanding. This promotes informed judicial conclusions and ensures a fair process for all.

Chinnaswamy Stadium Stampede: Details and Aftermath

The stampede occurred outside the stadium as RCB celebrated its inaugural Indian Premier League (IPL) victory. The incident caused 11 deaths.

The court deemed open access crucial due to the tragedy's scale, promoting institutional accountability and addressing public interest. The High Court's order allows KSCA, RCB, and DNA Entertainment Networks to review the investigations.

These entities were involved with the event. Access to details will help them provide aid and perspectives on events. This may mitigate similar future tragedies. The Chinnaswamy Stadium incident on June 4, 2025, prompted judicial scrutiny and multiple investigations.