Latest news with #BengaluruPolice
News18
21 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
Bengaluru Stampede: Congress High Command Summons Siddaramaiah, DK Shivakumar To Delhi
Last Updated: The Congress high command has called Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar to Delhi, in connection with the Bengaluru stampede case. Days after a stampede near Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy Stadium killed 11 people, the Congress high command has summoned Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar to Delhi. Sources with the Congress party told CNN-News18 that Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar were asked to meet Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday morning. DK Shivakumar is already in the national capital for a government program, and is likely to extend his stay to meet Gandhi. The Chief Minister, meanwhile, is likely to fly to Delhi on Tuesday morning. On Sunday, Siddaramaiah had expressed grief over the stampede, saying the incident should not have happened. He also clarified that he 'didn't have any connection with the cricket stadium". Addressing reporters in Mysuru on Sunday, Siddaramaiah said, 'This incident shouldn't have happened, it happened at the Cricket stadium. I don't have any connection with the cricket stadium." Asked about the allegation that the then Bengaluru Police commissioner B Dayananda was made a scapegoat, he said, the Commissioner alone has not been suspended, five officers have been suspended, and the intelligence chief has been changed. 'My political secretary, K Govindara,j has been removed. We have taken a series of actions, not the police commissioner alone," he added. The stampede happened on June 4 in front of the Chinnaswamy Stadium, where a large number of people thronged to participate in the RCB team's IPL victory celebrations. The Opposition has been demanding the resignation of the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister over the matter.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Siddaramaiah deflects Bengaluru stampede blame, says 'no connection to stadium'
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah attempted to dissociate his government from the Bengaluru stampede tragedy on Sunday, claiming it didn't have 'any connection with the stadium'. Eleven people died and scores sustained injuries after the stampede broke out outside the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru on June 4 during RCB's IPL victory celebrations. "This incident shouldn't have happened. It happened at the Cricket stadium. I don't have any connection with the cricket stadium," he said at the press conference. Also read: 'My son will not come back': Father of Bengaluru stampede victim says compensation will go to wife, daughter Pinning the blame for the stampede on officials, Siddaramaiah also said that this was the first such incident in the state under his leadership and that they have taken action by suspending several officials. "It was an unfortunate incident, it shouldn't have happened. Such an incident never happened after I became the CM. Prima facie it seems to have happened because of the officials' fault, so we have taken action. Everyone is in pain, including me,' he said. When asked whether now-suspended Bengaluru Police commissioner B Dayananda was being made a scapegoat, Siddaramaiah said that five other officials have also been suspended. Highlighting his government's action in response to the stampede, he said, "My political secretary, K Govindaraj, has been removed. We have taken a series of actions, not just the police commissioner alone." The chief minister also added that it was only at 5.45 pm on June 4 that he got to know about the deaths due to the stampede, while they were reported at the hospital at 3.50 pm. Also read: Bengaluru stampede: Siddaramaiah says he learned of deaths only at 5.45 pm 'I came to know that deaths happened at 5.45 pm. At 3.50 pm, deaths were reported at the hospital, but I came to know about it only at 5.45 pm. Until that point, I was not aware of deaths taking place due to the stampede,' he said. Siddaramaiah was not present at the event held at the Chinnaswamy stadium on June 4. However, he did attend the felicitation ceremony for the RCB held in front of Vidhana Soudha on the invitation of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA ) Secretary and Treasurer. The BJP-led Opposition has demanded the chief minister's resignation. Last week, the Karnataka government announced a compensation of ₹25 lakh for the families of those who died in the stampede. With inputs from PTI
News18
3 days ago
- Sport
- News18
Bengaluru Stampede: Here's What Police Said On Complaint Against Virat Kohli
Last Updated: Bengaluru Police have clarified that while the complaint has been received, it will not result in a fresh FIR at this stage Bengaluru Police on Friday confirmed that no First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against cricketer Virat Kohli following a complaint linked to the stampede near the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4. The incident, which took place during celebrations of Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) first IPL title win, left 11 people dead and several others injured. The complaint was filed by social activist HM Venkatesh at the Cubbon Park Police Station. In his submission, Venkatesh alleged that Kohli, as a prominent member of the RCB team, was responsible for inciting the crowd by promoting what he described as 'gambling through IPL." He further claimed that the Indian Premier League is 'not a sport but gambling that has contaminated the game of cricket." The activist further alleged that Kohli's role in drawing large crowds, particularly during the team's victory celebrations, contributed to the chaos that led to the stampede. 'Virat Kohli of the Bangalore RCB team is the most prominent among those who participated in such gambling and incited people to gather in a specific place and caused this tragedy. Therefore, we request you to please make Virat Kohli and his team members accused in the FIR of this tragedy and take action," the complaint read. However, Bengaluru Police clarified that while the complaint has been received, it will not result in a fresh FIR at this stage. 'The complaint will be examined as part of the ongoing investigation under an already registered case," a senior police official said, adding that the matter remains under detailed review. First Published: June 07, 2025, 12:35 IST
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Unplanned, unapproved, unforgivable: Lessons and questions from Bengaluru stampede tragedy that took 11 young lives
The fatal events unfolded within less than 24 hours of RCB's title win. Without any clear coordination between the RCB management, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), and the state government, an open-top bus parade was publicly announced by RCB early on June 4. The rally was set to start from Vidhana Soudha to Chinnaswamy Stadium — right through Bengaluru's busiest Central Business District. Also Read - Ramachandra Guha slams Karnataka government: 'Top cop made a scapegoat in Bengaluru tragedy' But here lies the first big question, 'Was the Bengaluru Police informed?". RCB's announcement of the 'Victory Parade' appeared to have caught city police off guard. Just two hours later, police issued a public statement saying the parade was cancelled due to security concerns and lack of clearance. Yet, the damage was already done. Thousands of fans had already begun making their way to the stadium, assuming the event would proceed. To add to the confusion, Deputy CM DK Shivakumar welcomed the RCB team at the airport and took them to Vidhana Soudha, further fueling assumptions that celebrations were still on. Bollywood actor Anushka Sharma, present with her husband Virat Kohli, even posted videos of the massive crowd chasing the team bus, calling the experience 'unbelievable.' Clearly, there was no clarity on whether this was a cancelled event or an impromptu, unsanctioned celebration. Also Read - Karnataka CM's political secretary K Govindaraj sacked amid Bengaluru stampede outrage Multiple reports suggest that the Bengaluru Police had raised red flags about the parade, but there was internal pressure to go ahead regardless. The result? Mismanaged crowds, no clear access routes, and a deadly stampede triggered by sheer chaos outside a stadium that already struggles to handle traffic on a match day. Chinnaswamy Stadium has hosted similar crowds before. But what made this different was the false promise and the idea that fans could just show up and catch a glimpse of their heroes celebrating up close — without a plan. These are not just questions for a press conference. These are questions that decide whether such a tragedy will ever happen again. No victory — no matter how historic — is worth human lives. And no photograph or selfie with a trophy can be more important than public safety. What the Bengaluru stampede teaches us is stark, when institutional arrogance and coordination failures meet fan frenzy, disaster is inevitable. Whether it's Bengaluru, Prayagraj, Goa, or Tirupati — stampedes are not acts of God. They are products of neglect, poor planning, and sometimes, sheer ego. And until those in power — sports franchises, civic leaders, and governments — take responsibility instead of hiding behind 'suspensions' and 'probes', such tragedies will repeat. As fans, it's important to remember: celebration is not worth dying for. And as a society, we must ensure that no city becomes a stage for yet another avoidable tragedy.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
4 days ago
- Sport
- First Post
Karnataka High Court denies interim relief to RCB marketing head Nikhil Sosale after arrest over Chinnaswamy stampede
RCB marketing and revenue head Nikhil Sosale had been arrested at the Bengaluru airport in the early hours of Friday in connection with the stampede at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium that had left 11 dead, and had approached the Karnataka High Court for interim relief later in the day. read more Nikhil Sosale has been Royal Challengers Bengaluru's marketing and revenue head since 2023 and is seen as someone close to Virat Kohli and wife Anushka Sharma. Image credit: X Royal Challengers Bengaluru marketing and revenue head Nikhil Sosale has moved the Karnataka High Court after getting arrested by Bengaluru Police in connection with the stampede that had occurred outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday and had left 11 dead in its wake. Sosale had been arrested in the early hours of Friday at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport, from where he was scheduled to catch a flight reportedly for Mumbai. Besides the RCB marking chief, three executives belonging to event management company DNA Entertainment were also detained at the airport in what was a joint operation between the Central Crime Branch and Bengaluru Police. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Sosale and the DNA employees were later taken to Cubbon Park Police Station, whose jurisdiction covers the iconic cricket stadium where a stampede broke out on Wednesday while a felicitation event was being held to celebrate RCB's maiden IPL title. The tragic incident left 11 dead and left several more – as high as 75 according to some reports – injured. Sosale yet to receive interim relief after moving Karnataka HC Sosale, a marketing and revenue professional with more than 15 years of experience in the sports and beverage sectors, had moved the Karnataka High Court contending that the manner in which he was arrested at the airport was illegal, arbitrary and violative of his fundamental rights, according to Bar and Bench. In his petition, Sosale added that the arrest was made on the directive of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and was carried out before the police had even begun investigating into the matter, which he claimed was in violation of his right to freedom under Article 19 as well as principles of natural justice. 'It is clear from the timing of the Petitioner's arrest, which is evidently the result of an oral directive of the Hon'ble Chief Minister to arrest various RCB officials - that too, in the absence of any investigation whatsoever - that the Petitioner's arrest is motivated and an attempt to shift the blame of the tragedy to RCSPL and its officials,' Sosale's petition read. Justice SR Krishna Kumar, however, did not provide Sosale interim relief from police custody, stating that the Karnataka High Court cannot pass any order without hearing the State in the 'Nikhil Sosale v. State of Karnataka' case and has adjourned the hearing for Monday. 'I will have to give chance [to the State]. Any matter, wherever a person is in custody … which is moved at 2:30, I am not passing order without giving a chance. I cannot do it right now,' read the statement from Karnataka HC. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Karnataka government had setup a one-member commission headed by retired Karnataka High Court Justice John Michael Cunha to investigate the stampede, that has since snowballed into a political battle between the Bharatiya Janata Party – which has been in power at the Centre since 2014 – and Congress.
