Bengaluru — In the aftermath of the devastating stampede during Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) IPL victory parade, both the RCB management and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) have come under intense public scrutiny for their silence and apparent lack of accountability.
Despite mounting outrage and repeated media attempts for clarification, KSCA General Secretary A. Shankar has declined to comment. Reporters from Public TV were allegedly stonewalled, with the official refusing to provide any public statement. The RCB management, meanwhile, issued a curt “No comments,” deflecting responsibility and shifting blame toward KSCA.
This muted response has angered fans and citizens, especially in light of the tragic loss of 11 lives and injuries to more than 50 people. Many have questioned the poor coordination and lack of crowd control measures at the stadium during the celebrations.
In a significant development, advocate Ranganath Reddy has filed a legal complaint against both KSCA and RCB, alleging negligence and lack of planning. According to the complaint, RCB’s announcement of the parade occurred without proper coordination with city law enforcement, leading to chaos.
The incident followed RCB’s thrilling IPL title win over Punjab Kings, which sparked jubilant celebrations across Bengaluru. On Wednesday, thousands of fans flooded the streets and converged at HAL Airport Road, Taj West End, Vidhana Soudha, and Chinnaswamy Stadium.
However, the sudden announcement of the parade, combined with free entry, led to dangerous overcrowding at stadium gates 18, 19, and 20. Security arrangements were overwhelmed, forcing police to resort to lathi charges to disperse the crowd.
Public outrage continues to mount, with many demanding accountability from both cricketing bodies involved.
