Chinnaswamy Stampede: Karnataka High Court bars police from filing chargesheet against RCB, others (for now)

The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday passed an interim order restraining the State police from filing its final report or chargesheet in the criminal cases filed against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), event management company DNA and others in connection with the Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede [Royal Challengers Sports Pvt. Limited and anr v. State of Karnataka and connected matters]..Justice SR Krishna Kumar passed the interim order on petitions filed by RCB, DNA, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), RCB's marketing head Nikhil Sosale and other accused persons (petitioners) seeking the quashing of first information reports (FIRs) filed against them in the matter. The petitioners, represented by Senior Advocates Sandesh J Chouta, CV Nagesh and Kiran S Javalli, among others, argued that their case would be affected if chargesheet is filed against them before the validity of the FIRs is decided by the Court. Justice Kumar too observed that their petitions would be rendered infructuous if chargesheets are filed before the Court decides on the validity of the FIRs. The Court, therefore, told the State that while it may continue its investigation, it should not file charge sheets without the Court's permission. Interim orders passed earlier to restrain the arrest of the accused were also extended till August 5, when the matter will be heard next. "Relist on August 5. Meanwhile, respondents not to file final report without leave of the court. Interim order extended till the next date of hearing," the High Court ordered. .Notably, the counsel representing DNA today urged the Court to hear the matter at the earliest since the event management company's business was being affected due to the pendency of the criminal case. He pointed out that most contracts contain a clause that says that the party should not be facing criminal proceedings. The Court took note of the concern and proposed to hear DNA's petition on July 29. However, after the State's counsel pointed out that it may have to file a common response to DNA's petition as well as the petitions filed be others accused (RCB, KSCA etc.), the Court eventually decided not to hear DNA's case separately. All these petitions will be heard next on August 5. .The Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede unfolded on June 4 after a huge crowd of people gathered outside the stadium in hopes of meeting the RCB cricket team after their first IPL victory in 18 years. Around 5 lakh people are said to have rushed to the stadium to take part in the event, although the stadium was meant to accommodate only around 33,000 people.Eleven people died and 56 were left injured in the ensuing stampede.The State blamed the event organisers for holding the event without proper intimation to the State authorities while the organisers blamed the State authorities for not taking sufficient steps to manage the anticipated crowd. RCB, DNA and the KSCA as well as key representatives of these entities, were eventually booked in criminal cases filed by the State.