Judicial Panel Finds 11 Parties Liable in IPL 2025 Stampede Case

Judicial Panel Finds 11 Parties Liable in IPL 2025 Stampede Case

In a landmark interim report, the judicial panel appointed to investigate the IPL 2025 fan event tragedy in Bengaluru has found 11 different parties liable for the stampede that resulted in multiple deaths and injuries. The panel’s findings have sent shockwaves across the state, implicating government departments, event organizers, and private stakeholders.

RCB Franchise Among Top Entities Held Accountable

At the top of the list is the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) management, which has been accused of gross negligence and poor coordination. The panel stated that the franchise failed to ensure adequate crowd control and created confusion by promoting a last-minute appearance by star player Virat Kohli without prior security assessment or clearance.

Bengaluru Police and BBMP Also Blamed

The Bengaluru Police Department and Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) were also named among the 11 parties. The report criticized the police for deploying insufficient personnel and not acting decisively despite early warning signs of overcrowding. BBMP was faulted for issuing event permissions without verifying safety protocols and crowd capacity limits.

Event Management Firm and Security Agency Under Scrutiny

The private event management firm hired by RCB and the third-party security agency have been held responsible for lapses in entry gate control, barricade placement, and emergency response readiness. The panel noted that entry lanes were poorly marked, leading to stampede-like pressure at multiple choke points.

KSCA and Local Transport Authority Implicated

The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), the stadium authority, was blamed for not executing its crowd dispersal plans effectively. Meanwhile, the local transport authority was flagged for failing to regulate vehicular congestion and pedestrian movement around the stadium, which contributed to the chaos.

Legal Notices and Penalties Likely to Follow

Based on the findings, the panel has recommended that legal notices and monetary penalties be issued to the responsible parties. It also suggested criminal negligence charges against specific officials from RCB, BBMP, and the event management firm. A final report with detailed accountability and compensation recommendations is expected in the coming weeks.