BJP blames CM for Bengaluru stampede deaths, CID begins probe, RCB officials arrested

The Karnataka government has handed over the investigation into the Bengaluru stadium stampede to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), after 11 people were killed and over 50 injured during the RCB IPL victory celebration at M Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4. CID officials have already begun gathering details from the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), as political heat intensifies around the incident.

Top KSCA officials, including secretary A Shankar and treasurer ES Jairam, resigned citing "moral responsibility" for the tragedy. The Bengaluru Police has named Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), DNA Entertainment (the event partner), and KSCA as accused in the case. Four people, including RCB’s marketing head Nikhil Sosale, have been arrested and sent to 14-day judicial custody.

The BJP has seized the opportunity to target the ruling Congress government, with Union minister Shobha Karandlaje accusing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar of having “blood on their hands.” A judicial probe led by retired Justice John Michael D'Cunha is also underway, while the Karnataka High Court has taken suo motu cognisance of the tragedy and demanded a status report by June 10.