Karnataka High Court to pronounce its verdict on June 12 on legality of arrest of RCB and DNA executives in stampede case

The Hindu

11-06-2025

The High Court of Karnataka on Wednesday reserved its order on the petitions filed by four representatives of Royal Challengers Sports Pvt. Ltd. (RCSPL) and DNA Networks Pvt. Ltd., who have questioned the legality of their arrest in connection with the June 4 stampede outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in the city during the celebration of RCB's victory in IPL-2025 tournment.
Justice S.R. Krishna Kumar, who heard the arguments on the petition, said he would pronounce the verdict on Thursday afternoon.
The petitions were filed by Nikhil Sosale, head (Marketing and Revenue), RCSPL; Sunil Mathew, director, and Kiran Kumar, event manager of DNA; and Shamant N.P. Mavinakere, a freelancer with DNA.
Earlier, State Advocate-General Shashi Kiran Shetty and Additional State Public Prosecutor B.N. Jagadeesha defended their arrest, claiming that the police adhered to all the procedures laid down in law and by the apex court while arresting them.
'No permission'
Mr. Shetty said these four persons were among others connected with the RCSPL and DNA, who were responsible for making social media posts inviting cricket fans to come to the stadium for the victory celebrations, even though there was no permission to organise the event at the stadium.
Also, the A-G said that neither the Karnataka State Cricket Association nor the RCSPL had sought permission under the provisions of the Licensing and Controlling of Assemblies and Processions (Bangalore city) Order, 2008, notified in 2009, for the event.
The communications sent by the KSCA or others were only a mere intimation of the possible victory celebrations and no formal application, the A-G said while contending that in any case, the police had not granted permission to the victory celebrations held in the stadium, and hence it was illegal and punishable in law.
Holding of illegal event led to the death of 11 persons in the stampede as the RSCPL had failed to manage the crowd, Mr. Shetty contended.
On CM and Dy. CM
While the A-G did not say anything on the court's query whether Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had stated at a media conference that he had ordered the arrest of officials of the RCB and others, the written statement filed by the police stated that contention of the petitioners, that their arrest was solely made on the Chief Minister's order, was not relevant for deciding the legality of their arrest.
On the petitioners' claim that Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had participated in the celebrations in the stadium, the A-G said he was only an invitee and it was was the RCSPL which held the event without permission.