KSCA Turmoil: Secretary and Treasurer Resign Amid Bengaluru Stampede Controversy
In a major development, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has been hit by a wave of resignations following the tragic stampede incident that occurred during the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) IPL trophy celebration in Bengaluru. KSCA Secretary A. Shankar and Treasurer E.S. Jayaram have stepped down from their respective posts, taking moral responsibility for the incident that claimed 11 lives and left more than 50 injured.
The duo submitted their resignations on Thursday night in a letter addressed to KSCA President Raghuram Bhat. In a joint statement, they said, “Due to the unexpected and unfortunate events that unfolded over the past two days, we have decided to resign from our posts as Secretary and Treasurer of KSCA. However, it is important to note that our roles in this incident were extremely limited.”
RCB Celebration Turns Tragic: Stampede Leaves 11 Dead
The celebrations following RCB’s historic IPL 2025 win turned into chaos outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. While the official felicitation ceremony at Vidhana Soudha took place without incident, a massive crowd gathered outside the stadium after RCB’s social media pages issued an open invitation to fans. The resulting overcrowding led to a deadly stampede.
Despite the tragedy unfolding just outside the stadium, the felicitation ceremony inside went ahead as planned. This decision has drawn heavy criticism from the public, media, and political figures alike, with many questioning the responsibility and preparedness of the organisers.
KSCA’s Letter to State Government Surfaces
Earlier, a letter dated June 3 sent by KSCA to the Karnataka state government came to light. The letter shows that KSCA had sought official permission to conduct the IPL celebration event at Vidhana Soudha, and that the arrangements were to be handled by a third-party event agency — DNA Entertainment Networks Pvt Ltd.
In the letter, KSCA mentioned that “M/s DNA Entertainment Networks Pvt Ltd will make all necessary arrangements for the felicitation ceremony at the Vidhana Soudha Grand Steps if RCB wins the title.” The letter was addressed to the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms of the Karnataka government.
KSCA Denies Responsibility, Moves High Court
In response to the backlash and the filing of an FIR against its members, KSCA has moved the Karnataka High Court, arguing that the association is not responsible for crowd or gate management at such events. The association pointed out that the IPL celebration was organised by RCB through its official service partner, DNA Entertainment Networks, and that KSCA merely provided the venue and infrastructure.
“We have been wrongly named in the FIR under extreme pressure and without any proper investigation,” KSCA stated in its petition. It also emphasised that the association had no control over the social media invitation that led to the massive turnout outside the stadium.
High Court Grants Temporary Relief
Justice S.R. Krishna Kumar of the Karnataka High Court has granted temporary relief to KSCA officials by restraining the police from taking any coercive action until the next hearing. The judge has directed the petitioners to fully cooperate with the ongoing investigation.
Additionally, the High Court has taken suo motu cognizance of the tragic incident and asked the state government to file a detailed status report. This matter will be heard on June 10, while the plea to quash the FIR will be heard again on June 16.
Public Outcry and Political Fallout
The tragic turn of events during what should have been a moment of celebration has sparked outrage across Karnataka. Many are questioning the planning, management, and accountability of the organisers. The continuation of the felicitation event inside the stadium, despite the unfolding tragedy outside, has especially drawn severe criticism.
Though KSCA has distanced itself from the crowd mismanagement, the resignations of A. Shankar and E.S. Jayaram highlight the moral weight of the incident. As investigations continue, the focus remains on how such a preventable tragedy could occur in the name of celebration.