Karnataka CM Orders Arrest of RCB, KSCA Officials; Suspends Bengaluru Police Chief Over Stampede Incident

In a dramatic development following the tragic stampede outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has taken strong action by ordering the arrest of key officials from the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) franchise and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA). The Chief Minister has also suspended Bengaluru Police Commissioner B. Dayananda, citing gross negligence in crowd management that led to the deadly incident.

Stampede During RCB Ticket Sale Turns Fatal

The chaos unfolded on Tuesday evening when thousands of cricket fans gathered outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium to purchase tickets for an upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) match involving RCB. A limited number of tickets and poor coordination between KSCA, RCB, and local law enforcement created a volatile situation, culminating in a stampede that reportedly claimed at least five lives and left dozens injured.

Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic and suffocation, with people collapsing under the pressure of the surging crowd. Videos circulating on social media showed fans trying to scale barricades, while some fainted due to overcrowding and a lack of basic amenities like water and medical aid.

Government Cracks Down on Lapses

Reacting swiftly to the public outrage and media coverage, CM Siddaramaiah held an emergency meeting with top officials and announced stringent action. “What happened at the stadium is unacceptable. This is a case of criminal negligence and disregard for public safety. We will not spare anyone responsible for this tragedy,” the CM said during a press briefing.

He directed the state police to immediately arrest key executives of RCB and senior KSCA officials, including the event managers responsible for the ticket sale and crowd arrangements. “They prioritized profit and publicity over human lives,” Siddaramaiah added, blaming both organizations for failing to anticipate crowd turnout and take necessary precautions.

Police Chief Held Accountable

In a move that has sent shockwaves through the police establishment, Bengaluru Police Commissioner B. Dayananda has been suspended for dereliction of duty. The CM accused the Commissioner of failing to deploy sufficient personnel and ignoring early warnings about the expected crowd size.

“This is not just a lapse; it’s a failure of leadership,” Siddaramaiah stated. “The Commissioner had clear instructions to ensure safety but failed to act in time.”

Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Alok Kumar has been appointed interim Bengaluru Police Chief, with immediate effect. Kumar has been tasked with overseeing a thorough investigation into the incident and reviewing all future event security protocols in the city.

KSCA and RCB Under Fire

The Karnataka State Cricket Association and RCB are facing severe backlash from the public and cricketing community alike. Questions have been raised over the limited availability of tickets and the decision to conduct offline sales without proper crowd control measures.

In a statement issued late Tuesday night, KSCA expressed “deep regret” over the incident and offered condolences to the families of the deceased. RCB also issued a statement, saying it was “shocked and saddened” and would cooperate fully with the authorities. However, critics argue that these statements are too little, too late.

Public and Political Reactions

The opposition parties have also weighed in, accusing the government of reactive governance and demanding an independent inquiry. Civil society groups have called for accountability from both cricket bodies and city authorities.

The Chief Minister assured that a compensation package would be announced soon for the victims’ families and that a judicial inquiry would be set up to probe the incident in detail.

As investigations unfold, the tragedy has sparked a wider conversation about event management, public safety, and corporate responsibility in India’s sports and entertainment sectors.