Bengaluru Stampede: KSCA Secretary, Treasurer Resign After 11 Die In RCB Victory Parade
Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) secretary A Shankar and treasurer E Jairam resigned with immediate effect on Friday night, taking “moral responsibility” for the tragic stampede during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL victory celebrations that killed 11 people and injured several others at M Chinnaswamy Stadium. The resignations came as legal proceedings intensified against cricket and event management officials following the June 6 disaster.
The KSCA officials submitted their resignations despite claiming their “role was very limited” in the event that was meant to celebrate RCB’s maiden IPL title victory but turned into a deadly tragedy outside the stadium.
In a joint press release issued Saturday, Shankar and Jairam stated they were “owning moral responsibility” for the unforeseen tragedy. “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,” they wrote.
The resignations were submitted through a letter dated June 6, 2025, addressed to KSCA President Raghuram Bhat, who is also named in the FIR filed at Cubbon Park Police Station.
An FIR has been registered naming RCB, KSCA president Raghuram Bhat, and event management company DNA Entertainment in connection with the stampede. Several political leaders and police personnel have already been suspended following the disaster.
The legal action comes as investigations reveal lapses in crowd management and safety protocols during what was supposed to be a celebratory event for the cricket franchise’s historic IPL triumph.
A PTI report disclosed that KSCA had sought permission for RCB’s IPL trophy celebrations at Vidhan Soudha, confirming the association’s involvement in facilitating approvals for the franchise. The KSCA had stated that the concerned event management company would “make necessary arrangements” for the celebration.
However, Shankar and Jayaram have submitted to the Karnataka High Court that gate and crowd management were not the association’s responsibilities, seeking to distance themselves from operational aspects of the event.
The Karnataka High Court has restrained police from taking coercive action against KSCA officials until the next hearing scheduled for June 16. The court will hear the petition to quash the FIR filed against the cricket association officials.
This legal protection comes as investigations continue into the circumstances that led to the deadly stampede outside the cricket stadium.
The felicitation ceremony at Vidhan Soudha proceeded smoothly without incident. However, chaos erupted outside Chinnaswamy Stadium where thousands of fans gathered after RCB’s social media invitation offering free entry on a first-come-first-served basis.
The social media post was eventually removed, but not before attracting massive crowds. A planned victory parade had to be cancelled due to the stampede, though the event inside the stadium continued despite the turmoil outside, drawing further criticism from safety experts.
The tragedy has highlighted serious lapses in crowd control and safety management. The decision to continue indoor celebrations while a deadly stampede unfolded outside has raised questions about emergency response protocols and communication between event organizers.
