Karnataka State Cricket Association secrteary A Shankar and treasurer ES Jairam have resigned from their posts in the aftermath of the stampede outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4 that claimed 11 lives and injured 75 people. Lakhs of people had congregated to celebrate Royal Challengers Bengaluru's maiden IPL title a night before.
"This is to inform that due to the unforeseen and unfortunate events that have unfolded in the last two days and though our role was very limited, but owing moral responsibility, we wish to state that last night we have tendered our resignation to our respective posts as the Secretary and Treasurer of the Karnataka State Cricket Association, by way of a letter dated 06.06.2025 to the President of Karnataka State Cricket Association," said Shankar and Jairam in a press release on Saturday.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Despite getting some leeway from the Karnataka High Court, pressure had mounted on the KSCA top brass to step down on moral grounds.
In their plea in court, KSCA's committee had stated: "There is no wrong that can be attributed to the committee or its office-bearers as they stand aloof of any liabilities against the entire unfortunate incident…" They also stated that the stadium is managed by RCB since the IPL franchise had rented the premises.
Additionally, news agency PTI reported that the KSCA had sought permission from the government to conduct the celebrations on behalf of event management company DNA Entertainment Networks. The KSCA stated that the concerned company would "make necessary arrangements" for the event.
"On behalf of the M/s DNA Entertainment Networks Private Limited, KSCA requests to inform that after the TATA IPL 2025 Finals on 3rd June 2025, in case Royal Challengers Bengaluru wins the IPL 2025 title, M/s DNA Entertainment Networks Private Limited shall make plans for the felicitation ceremony at the Vidhana Soudha Grand Steps," KSCA stated in the letter.
"KSCA requests that M/s DNA Entertainment Networks Private Limited shall be permitted to make necessary arrangements at the Vidhana Soudha Grand Steps," the association further said in the letter addressed to the Department of Personnel & Administrative Reforms (DPAR) of the state government.
While the felicitation ceremony at the Vidhan Soudha passed off without any major glitch, chaos happened outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium where lakhs converged following RCB's social media invitation, despite inadequate planning and organisation. That post has since been deleted. A planned victory parade, on an open top bus, had to be cancelled but the function inside the stadium proceeded despite the tragedy that unfolded outside.
KSCA puts blame squarely on RCB, DNA
The KSCA pleaded in Court that there is "absolutely no wrong that can be attributed to the Petitioner Committee or its office bearers as they stand aloof of any liabilities against the entire unfortunate incident."
"IPL events are conducted by RCB through their service provider M/S DNA network private limited and the role of KSCA is very limited as it accommodates by extending the venue and infrastructure," the body stated in its writ petition.
"KCSA facilitates government permissions. The management of gates is the responsibility of RCB Franchise /DNA who execute under the direction of the police.
"The police have registered the FIR under intense pressure and compelling circumstances without any preliminary enquiry by naming the petitioner/members of KSCA as accused," it added.
Justice SR Krishna Kumar, who heard the petition seeking to quash the FIR against the KSCA office-bearers, restrained the police from taking any coercive action against the officials until the next hearing (June 16).
RCB parent company stays quiet
Footwears lie on the ground outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium following a stampede after a large number of fans gathered for the felicitation of IPL 2025 winning Royal Challengers Bengaluru team, in Bengaluru, Karnataka. (Pic credit: PTI)
It has now been three days since tragedy struck Bengaluru and innocent lives were lost due to the chaos. RCB have issued statements, announced monetary compensation for the families of the deceased 11 individuals and setup a 'RCB Cares' fund for the injured fans.
Yet, the
parent company behind RCB, Diageo, have remained quiet. As TimesofIndia.com reported, we've sent a specific set of questions to Diageo on the stampede. The queries ask for their reaction on the incident, why they've been quiet, whether they were satisfied with the arrangements and whether this has soured the victory celebrations. As things stand, the company has not responded.
Meanwhile, RCB's marketing head Nikhil Sosale has been sent to judicial custody until June 19. He, and three other DNA Event Management Company staffers, was arrested in the early hours of Friday at the airport.