FIR and arrests in the news after stampede outside Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru
On June 4, 2025, a tragic stampede occurred outside Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium during celebrations for Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) first IPL victory, resulting in 11 deaths and 33 injuries. The victims, all under 40, included a 13-year-old girl, three teenagers, and young adults, such as Divyanshi, a schoolgirl from Andhra Pradesh, and Kamatchi, a 27-year-old techie from Tamil Nadu.
The chaos was triggered by poor crowd management, inadequate security, and confusion over free entry passes, with an estimated 2-3 lakh fans overwhelming the stadium’s 35,000 capacity. Despite police deployment, the crowd became uncontrollable, leading to people climbing gates and barricades, causing the deadly crush.
An FIR was filed on June 5 at Cubbon Park Police Station against RCB, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), and event management firm DNA Entertainment Networks, under charges including culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Four arrests were made, including RCB’s marketing and revenue head, Nikhil Sosale, apprehended at Bengaluru’s airport on June 6.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah ordered the arrest of representatives from RCB, KSCA, and DNA, suspended several police officials, including Bengaluru Police Commissioner B. Dayananda, and announced a magisterial inquiry led by former judge Michael D’Cunha. The Karnataka High Court also took suo motu cognizance, directing a status report by June 10.
Siddaramaiah announced ₹10 lakh compensation for each victim’s family, with RCB and KSCA adding ₹10 lakh and ₹5 lakh, respectively, per family. RCB also launched the ‘RCB Cares’ fund for the injured. The opposition, including BJP leaders, criticized the state government for negligence, while Deputy CM DK Shivakumar admitted the crowd was “absolutely uncontrollable.”
A complaint was filed against cricketer Virat Kohli by social activist H.M. Venkatesh at Bengaluru’s Cubbon Park Police Station on June 6, 2025, following the tragic stampede outside M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4, which killed 11 people and injured 33 during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) IPL victory celebrations.
The complaint alleges that Kohli, as a prominent RCB figure, incited the massive crowd by promoting the event, which the activist controversially described as “gambling through IPL,” contributing to the chaos. However, no FIR has been specifically registered against Kohli based on this complaint. The police stated it would be considered under an existing FIR against RCB, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), and DNA Entertainment Networks, which cites charges like culpable homicide not amounting to murder due to inadequate crowd management and lack of permissions.
Social media saw significant backlash, with the hashtag #ArrestViratKohli trending, fueled by claims that Kohli and his wife, Anushka Sharma, left for Mumbai (and rumored to London) soon after the incident, though some posts clarified he was only in Mumbai. Fans and analysts, including former cricketer Atul Wassan, questioned whether Kohli was aware of the tragedy unfolding outside while celebrations continued inside the stadium.
Kohli expressed grief, posting on Instagram, “At a loss for words. Absolutely gutted,” alongside RCB’s statement mourning the loss and announcing ₹10 lakh compensation for victims’ families. The Karnataka High Court has restrained coercive action against KSCA officials, and four individuals, including RCB’s marketing head Nikhil Sosale, were arrested and sent to 14-day judicial custody. The case remains under investigation, with a judicial inquiry led by former judge Michael D’Cunha ongoing.