Tribunal Blames RCB for Bengaluru Stampede, Defends Police Action

In a strong-worded observation, the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has held Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) primarily responsible for the tragic stampede outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4 that claimed 11 lives and left several injured. The tribunal stated that RCB’s sudden and unplanned announcement of their IPL victory parade led to an uncontrollable crowd gathering of nearly 3 to 5 lakh people.

According to the CAT order, RCB did not seek prior permission or consent from the Bengaluru Police. Their last-minute social media post triggered massive public turnout, which the tribunal labeled as a “nuisance.” The tribunal emphasized that such abrupt announcements left law enforcement with insufficient time—just about 12 hours—to make critical arrangements required under the Police Act and related regulations.

“Police personnel are not God or magicians. They are human beings and cannot be expected to control such a large crowd without proper preparation,” the tribunal stated, while hearing a plea by a suspended police officer. It was also noted that police forces were already stretched thin due to another government event at Vidhana Soudha on the same day.

The CAT concluded that the stampede could have been prevented if the organizers had given timely intimation and sought proper approvals. The tribunal’s remarks strongly suggest administrative accountability lies with RCB, while also vindicating the actions of the police, who were working under extreme constraints.