Karnataka drafts tough new crowd control bill after Chinnaswamy stampede tragedy
BENGALURU: In response to the deadly June 4 stampede at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium that left 11 dead and 56 injured, the Karnataka government has prepared a draft bill to regulate crowd control at public events. The legislation, discussed in the cabinet on Monday, is likely to be tabled in the upcoming monsoon session of the state assembly.
The proposed law introduces strict liability for event organisers, including up to three years in jail, fines starting from ₹50,000, and penalties that can go up to ₹5 lakh. Violations will be treated as non-cognizable and non-bailable offences.
According to the draft, organisers must seek prior police permission, maintain crowd control, ensure safety, and pay compensation in case of harm or death. Failure to comply can result in imprisonment or fines, or both. The bill also includes punishment for abetment and applies to commercial events such as sports matches and circuses.
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru and DNA Networks, who handled arrangements at the celebratory event after RCB’s historic IPL 2024 victory, have been widely blamed for the chaos that erupted due to overcrowding at a narrow stadium gate.
The Siddaramaiah-led Congress government has faced sharp criticism from the BJP and JD(S) for poor planning and crowd mismanagement. Both opposition parties have demanded resignations from the Chief Minister and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar.
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