The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has found Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) “prima facie responsible” for the stampede that occurred on June 4 outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium during the team’s IPL victory celebrations. The tragedy resulted in the death of 11 people and left several others injured.

The Tribunal was hearing a petition filed by Additional Commissioner of Police Vikash Kumar Vikash, who had been suspended in the aftermath of the incident. In its ruling, the CAT absolved the police and pointed to RCB’s lack of coordination as a key factor behind the chaos.

“Prima facie it appears that the RCB is responsible for the gathering of about three to five lakh people. The RCB did not take the appropriate permission or consent from the Police. Suddenly, they posted on social media platforms and as a result of aforesaid information the public were gathered,” noted the Tribunal.

It further observed that the police had not been given adequate notice or time to make the necessary security arrangements. “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. Police personnel are also human beings…To control the aforesaid type of gathering and for making the proper arrangements sufficient time should be given to the Police.”

The Tribunal also highlighted the lack of formal communication from the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA). “But neither the information was given to the Police for making the arrangements nor the permission was applied or granted by the Police. The KSCA submitted a letter which also did not contain any request for granting the permission or for making the arrangements. The letter shows only the information regarding the intention. Therefore, it was not expected from the Police that upon the basis of a letter submitted before the Station In-charge of one Police Station, the Police will make all arrangements all of a sudden.”

RCB had clinched their maiden IPL title on June 3, defeating Punjab Kings at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The following day, massive crowds gathered near Vidhana Soudha and the M Chinnaswamy Stadium to witness the team’s victory parade, which spiraled into a deadly stampede.

In response to the tragedy, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had ordered the arrest of officials from RCB, DNA Networks, and the KSCA, while also suspending several senior police officers, including Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda, Additional Commissioner (West) Vikash Kumar Vikash, DCP (Central) Shekhar H Tekkannavar, and officials from the Cubbon Park Police Station.

Following the incident, KSCA secretary A Shankar and treasurer ES Jairam stepped down from their posts, accepting moral responsibility.