Life has moved on for everyone but us, say families of Royal Challengers Bengaluru stampede victims

As many as 11 people were killed in a stampede during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s victory celebrations in Bengaluru on June 4, 2025. | Photo credit: file photo

“More than a year after the death, no one has been held responsible for the tragedy. No charges have been laid and the officers have only been suspended by the government. The Indian Premier League matches were held at the same stadium this year. Life has moved on for everyone but us,” said Sridhar KT, brother of Shravana KT, a second-year Chinnae Royal Stadium dental student who was among the victims of the Chinnae Royal stamp. Challengers Bengaluru victory celebrations on June 4, 2025.

“We are small people to fight such great forces. We have lost all hope of seeing justice,” he lamented.

More than a year after the stampede, the department’s investigation against three senior IPS officers was concluded last week, with them exonerated. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is awaiting approval from the Karnataka High Court to file a chargesheet in the case against Royal Challengers Sports Pvt. Ltd., which owns the RCB team, event manager, DNA Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA).

As many as 11 people were killed in a stampede during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s victory celebrations in Bengaluru on June 4, 2025. | Photo credit: file photo

The High Court, which was hearing petitions challenging the FIR against the two firms and the KSCA, issued an interim order on July 8, 2025 directing the CID not to file the final investigation report/charge-sheet without prior permission. The CID filed a copy of the charge sheet against RCSPL, DNA Entertainment and KSCA on 17 March 2026 and sought permission to file the same in the appropriate court. It is still awaiting the High Court’s nod as the petition challenging the FIR is still pending.

Sources said the chargesheet filed in the Supreme Court is only the first and the CID has retained options to file supplementary chargesheets as well. The role of officers and other officials is still under investigation.

Lakshman DH, an industrialist who lost his son Bhumik, a 19-year-old engineering student, said they had no hope of justice as the entire event was organized by the government. “I tried to get a CBI inquiry but I failed. How can we expect justice from the government that organized the event?” he said.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly R. Ashok recently said that if elected, their government would hand over the investigation to the CBI.

Published – 24 Jul 2026 20:38 IST