Bengaluru: Police have registered a case against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) franchise, Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), DNA Networks, and others in connection with Wednesday’s tragic stampede outside M Chinnaswamy Stadium that led to the loss of 11 lives and injuries to dozens.
The FIR was filed by Cubbon Park Police, DCP (Central) Shekar H Tekkannavar confirmed.
The FIR, registered suo motu, has named multiple entities as accused in the case of alleged criminal negligence.
The complaint has been filed under various sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Section 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), Section 125(12) (acts endangering life or personal safety of others), Section 142 (unlawful assembly), Section 121 (abetment of an offence), and Section 190 (liability of members of an unlawful assembly for offences committed in pursuit of a common object).
Earlier in the day, the Karnataka High Court took suo motu cognizance of the stampede and issued notice to the state government.
The stampede took place when swarms of people, mostly teenagers and youths, were desperately trying to get inside the stadium where first-time IPL champions RCB were being felicitated.
Around 2-3 lakh people assembled to catch a glimpse of Virat Kohli and the other players, whereas the Chinnaswamy Stadium can seat around 35,000.
According to sources, police had advised the victory parade and felicitation ceremony to be held on Sunday, but the Karnataka government went ahead with the function the day after RCB’s victory.
One of the reasons for holding the ceremony barely 15 hours after RCB beat Punjab Kings in the final at Ahmedabad was that the team’s foreign players would not have been available later.