Royal Challengers Sports Limited (RCSL), the parent company of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), has approached the Karnataka High Court seeking to dismiss the criminal case filed against it over the Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede that claimed 11 lives.
In a separate plea, DNA Entertainment Networks Pvt Ltd, the event management firm responsible for organizing the IPL victory celebrations, also challenged the FIR lodged in connection with the tragedy.
The High Court has scheduled both petitions for hearing on June 10.
According to the petition submitted by RCSL, the company claims it has been wrongly accused and that it had made public announcements via social media stating that only a limited number of passes were available for the event. Additionally, it emphasized that pre-registration was compulsory even for complimentary entry.
RCB further argued that the delay in opening stadium gates—scheduled for 1:45 pm but actually opened at 3:00 pm—triggered the dangerous crowd surge that led to the stampede.
DNA Entertainment, on its part, pointed to lapses in police crowd control as the core reason behind the incident. The firm alleged that the law enforcement failed in managing the unexpected influx of attendees.
As the legal battle unfolds, the Karnataka High Court is now set to decide on the liability and accountability in one of the most tragic public safety failures in recent times.
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