Bengaluru stampede: Karnataka govt blames RCB and Virat Kohli video for deadly crowd surge

In its status report submitted to the High Court on July 17, the Karnataka government blamed Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and event organizers for the June 4 stampede outside M Chinnaswamy Stadium, which claimed 11 lives and injured over 50 people.

The report lays responsibility on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), event partner DNA Entertainment Networks, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) for organizing the event without required permissions.

It highlights failures in crowd control, gate management, safety arrangements, and coordination with Karnataka police.

A key factor cited was the RCB’s social media push—including a video of Virat Kohli—which reportedly amassed millions of views and drew an overwhelming turnout that far exceeded the allowed capacity.

The sequence of events worsened when organizers announced a sudden shift in entry policy, moving from open access to limited passes during the afternoon, triggering panic and a surge at entry points.

Despite Bengaluru police denying permission for the open-top bus parade, RCB proceeded and tweeted invitations to fans, drawing a crowd estimated between 200,000–300,000 in a tight area.

Around 8:55 am, RCB shared a now-deleted video featuring Virat Kohli inviting fans to join the festivities. According to the government, this message drew crowds far exceeding the stadium’s 35,000 capacity—estimates ranged between 200,000 and 300,000 people.

The sudden announcement at 3:14 pm that entry would require passes—contrary to earlier communication—added to the confusion, triggering panic that escalated into a deadly crush.

The report highlights that most gates became overcrowded, and although police eventually managed the crowd, many young fans between ages 17 and 25 were among the 11 who died.

FIRs have been filed against RCB, DNA Entertainment, and KSCA, while several police officers—including the city police commissioner—were suspended. RCB marketing head Nikhil Sosale was arrested at the Bengaluru airport.

The state government offered ₹10 lakh in compensation to the families of those who died and provided free treatment to the injured.