Bengaluru, June 5 — Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday ordered the suspension of the Bengaluru police commissioner and four senior police officials in connection with the tragic stampede near Chinnaswamy Stadium that claimed 11 lives and injured 56 others during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) IPL victory celebration.
In a high-level crackdown, the Chief Minister also directed the immediate arrest of representatives from RCB, DNA Entertainment Private Limited (event managers), and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA). The case has now been handed over to a one-man judicial commission headed by retired High Court judge Michael Cunha, tasked with submitting a report within 30 days.
“The cabinet met today and discussed yesterday’s tragedy in detail. It has been decided that the judicial commission led by Justice Cunha will probe the matter. We expect the report within a month,” Siddaramaiah told reporters.
Top Officials Removed
The Chief Minister announced the suspension of five senior police officers, including:
- Bengaluru City Commissioner of Police
- Additional Commissioner (stadium in-charge)
- Deputy Commissioner of Police, Central Zone
- Assistant Commissioner of Police (local area)
- Circle Inspector of Cubbon Park Police Station
“The lapses in crowd management were grave,” Siddaramaiah said. “The responsibility lies not just with the organisers but also with the police, who failed in their duty to ensure safety.”
Siddaramaiah confirmed that he had instructed the Director General of Police (DGP) and Inspector General of Police (IGP) to arrest representatives of RCB, the event management firm, and the KSCA.
“There has to be accountability,” he said. “They failed to take necessary precautions for such a massive gathering, and now lives have been lost.”
The stampede broke out on Wednesday evening outside M. Chinnaswamy Stadium where thousands had gathered to celebrate RCB’s first IPL title win. Overcrowding at entry points led to chaotic scenes, with police reportedly resorting to a lathi-charge to manage the crowd.
While an FIR has already been registered under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the state government’s action marks a rare instance of top-down accountability, including suspension of the city’s police chief.
The tragedy has cast a shadow over what was meant to be a celebratory evening, raising serious questions about event planning, crowd control, and the role of both civic authorities and private organisers.
