Latest news with #JayantBanerji
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Will not either publish or circulate Cunha Commission's report on stampede for now, A-G gives undertaking to Karnataka High Court
The State government on Tuesday gave an undertaking to the High Court of Karnataka that it would neither publish nor circulate the John Michael Cunha Commission report on the stampede outside M. Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru on June 4. State Advocate-General gave this assurance before a Division Bench, comprising Justice Jayant Banerji and Justice Umesh M. Adiga, during the hearing on a petition filed by DNA Entertainment Networks Pvt. Ltd., the event management partner of Royal Challengers Sports Pvt. Ltd., which owns Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). DNA had filed the petition complaining that the commission violated the provisions of the Commissions of Inquiry Act (CoI Act), 1952, in the procedure adopted in conducting the inquiry, while contending that the commission had not given an opportunity to DNA to cross-examine witnesses. While it has been alleged in the petition that the government had leaked the commission's report to the media, the A-G told the court the government had nothing to do with reports in the media. In response to A-G Shashi Kiran Shetty's undertaking, senior advocate B.K. Sampath Kumar, appearing for DNA, told the Bench that the government, while refusing to give a copy of the commission's report to DNA, had responded in writing that the report of the commission was already given to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), which is probing the stampede incident based on three First information Reports registered on June 5. However, the A-G said that the CID has been investigating the stampede incident from June. Meanwhile, the Bench orally remarked that 'some observations in the commission's report are shocking... they are all not hardened criminals... we are not making any observations at this stage', while adjourning hearing on the petition till September 4 as the A-G stated that the government would file its written objection to the petition. Earlier, the Bench posed some questions to the A-G about certain differences in the procedure followed by the commission and the provisions in the Act.
The Hindu
07-08-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Chinnaswamy stadium stampede: Government submits inquiry commission's report to Karnataka High Court
The State government on Thursday submitted copies of the report submitted by the John Michael D'Cunha Commission of Inquiry on the stampede that occurred outside M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. A Division Bench comprising Justice Jayant Banerji and Justice Umesh M. Adiga, which briefly perused the report, adjourned further hearing till August 11. The Bench, on August 5, directed the government to submit the report while hearing a petition filed by M/s DNA Entertainment Networks Pvt. Ltd., the event management partner of Royal Challengers Sports Pvt. Ltd., which owns the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) cricket team. DNA's petition DNA had filed the petition complaining that the commission violated the provisions of the Commissions of Inquiry Act (CoI Act), 1952, in conducting the proceedings, as no opportunity to cross-examine the witnesses was given to DNA. It has also been alleged in the petition that the commission had failed to give a personal hearing as per the provisions of the CoI Act before making any adverse remarks that could prejudicially affect the reputation of any person, despite the representative of the DNA having made a request in this regard. The court had directed the production of the commission's report in a sealed cover to ascertain the allegations made in the DNA's petition.
Indian Express
06-08-2025
- Indian Express
Bengaluru stampede: Karnataka HC seeks sealed copy of Justice D'Cunha Commission report
The Karnataka High Court Tuesday directed that a copy of the Justice (Retd) Michael D'Cunha Commission report on the June 4 stampede near Chinnaswamy Stadium be placed before it in a sealed cover. Eleven people were killed in the stampede which occurred during a celebration to mark the June 3 IPL championship victory of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) cricket team. The direction, by a bench consisting of Justices Jayant Banerji and Umesh Adiga, came in the wake of a petition filed by event management company DNA Entertainment seeking that the report be quashed. DNA also contended that it was not provided a copy of the report. As previously reported by The Indian Express, the Commission's report had placed responsibility for the tragedy on the event organisers and senior police officers, following which the government decided to book criminal cases against officials of RCB, DNA Entertainment, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association. Reiterating prior arguments made before the bench, Senior Advocate B K Sampath Kumar, on behalf of DNA, stated, 'We are not given the report. Our reputation is being tarnished day in and day out by the media…and social media also.' He added, 'The time provided (for the inquiry) was one month…but as we understand from the media, the report was only ready on July 11, beyond the period. Nowhere is the power for the one-man Commission to say such-and-such action should be taken against any individuals. It is only to point out who is responsible, what were the lapses, etc.' Kumar also stated that DNA should have had an opportunity to be heard, considering the effect on its reputation and the procedural requirements. He said, 'Before I am hanged, I should be heard…to say it in crude language… Here the Commission was duty bound to do that.' On behalf of the government, Advocate General Shashi Kiran Shetty said that one can't file a petition before the court based on information from the media. 'This is nothing but an abuse of process of court… The question is whether based on a paper publication…that cannot be ground to file a writ petition seeking something.' The matter will be heard further on Thursday.
The Hindu
05-08-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Karnataka High Court directs State government to submit Commission report on Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede
The High Court of Karnataka on Tuesday directed the State government to submit in sealed cover the report of the John Michael Cunha Commission of Inquiry on the incident of stampede that occurred outside M. Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru on June 4. A Division Bench comprising Justice Jayant Banerji and Justice Umesh M. Adiga issued the direction on a petition filed by DNA Entertainment Networks Pvt. Ltd., which has challenged the legality of the procedure adopted by the Commission in conducting the inquiry. Request by government Meanwhile, Senior Advocate B.K. Sampath Kumar, appearing for DNA Networks, told the bench that the function to facilitate the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) team on the steps of Vidhana Soudha on June 4 was also arranged by DNA Networks on the request made by the State government. It may be noted that DNA is the event manager for the Royal Challengers Sports Pvt. Ltd., which owns RCB cricket team. The petitioner-company has questioned the legality of the Commission's report while alleging that the Commission had violated the principles of natural justice and contrary to the provisions of the Commissions of Inquiry (COI), 1952, as no opportunity to cross-examine the witnesses was given to DNA Networks. Reputation impacted Mr. Kumar also contended that the reputation of the company has been severely affected due to the continued publication of the Commission's report in all forms of media, as it appears that the media has all the details of the Commission's report, even though the petitioner-company was not given a copy despite multiple requests. Meanwhile, the State Advocate-General Shashi Kiran Shetty argued that DNA Network will have to approach the civil court against the media publications on the commission's report, while stating that the Government has nothing to do with publications in the media citing the Commission's report. DNA Network, in its petition, has claimed that the report of the Commission was leaked to the media but not given to the company, while pointing out that even the applications filed by it under the RTI Act have also been rejected.
