Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket team Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has filed a plea before the Karnataka High Court questioning certain adverse remarks recently made against it by the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) with respect to the June 4 Chinnaswamy Stadium Stampede [Royal Challengers Sports Private Limited v. Mr. Vikash Kumar Vikash and others].
The CAT had said that the RCB seemed to be prima facie responsible for the large crowds that gathered at Chinnaswamy stadium which led to the stampede and loss of eleven lives.
The CAT had further said that the company did not take proper State permissions on time.
This made it difficult for the police to take proper crowd control measures, the CAT had opined while granting relief to a police official who had been suspended in the aftermath of the stampede.
The RCB has now questioned the CAT's critical remarks against it, given that these comments were made unilaterally, without hearing the company's defence.
"Despite the fact that (RCB) was not a party before it, the Hon'ble Central Administrative Tribunal, Bengaluru, has also held that (RCB) is prima facie responsible for the unfortunate incident that occurred on 04.06.2025 ... The findings in the (CAT) Order against the (RCB) is contrary to the principles of natural justice as (RCB) was not a party to the proceedings... The Hon'ble Central Administrative Tribunal has made observations against the (RCB) without even giving an opportunity to be heard in the proceedings," stated RCB in its petition filed through advocate Raghuram Cadambi.
The Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede occurred last month after a large crowd gathered to greet the RCB cricket team after they won the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 for the first time in 18 years. 11 people died and over 56 people suffered injuries.
Amid public outcry, the Karnataka government suspended several police officers on allegations that they failed to take adequate crowd control measures, including Additional Commissioner of Police (ACP) Vikash Kumar Vikash.
On July 1, the CAT set aside the suspension of ACP Vikash and also observed that the RCB appeared to be prima facie responsible for the huge crowds that gathered outside the stadium on June 4.
"The RCB created the aforesaid type of nuisance without any prior permission. It cannot expected from the Police that within a short time of about 12 hours the Police will make all arrangements required in the Police Act or in the other rules, etc. Police personnel are also human beings. They are neither 'God'(Bhagwan) nor Magician and also not having the magic powers like 'Alladdin ka Chirag' which was able to fulfil any wish only by rubbing a finger. To control the aforesaid type of gathering and for making the proper arrangements sufficient time should be given to the Police," the CAT said.
The RCB has now urged the High Court to set aside such comments and clarify that these observations by the CAT do not have any legally binding force.
The State has also approached the High Court challenging the CAT's order, contending that there was a clear dereliction of duty by ACP Vikash to justify his suspension from service. This appeal is slated to be heard next by the High Court on July 9.