Diageo Silent on Tragic Bengaluru Stampede During RCB Victory Parade
New Delhi: In a heartbreaking turn of events, the joyous celebration of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) long-awaited Indian Premier League (IPL) title victory on June 4 turned into a tragedy. A stampede during the victory parade near the iconic Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru claimed 11 innocent lives and left 75 others injured. Yet, nearly 48 hours after the catastrophe, RCB’s parent company, Diageo—a British multinational alcoholic beverage giant—has maintained an unsettling silence on the matter.
The victory parade, meant to mark the end of RCB’s 18-year title drought, descended into chaos as massive crowds gathered in and around the stadium. While RCB issued a couple of statements expressing condolences, the lack of response from Diageo has raised eyebrows. Many question why a corporation of its stature, which owns one of the IPL’s most popular franchises, has refrained from addressing the tragedy. TimesofIndia.com reached out to Diageo last night with pointed questions—seeking their reaction to the stampede, reasons for their silence, satisfaction with RCB’s arrangements, and whether this mars their historic triumph—but no response has been received yet. This story will be updated as soon as a statement is shared.
Meanwhile, the Bengaluru Police have acted swiftly, arresting RCB’s marketing head, Nikhil Sosale, along with three employees of DNA Entertainment Networks, on Friday morning. According to the FIR, the police had explicitly denied permission for the parade at Chinnaswamy Stadium due to foreseeable crowd control issues. Further investigations and interrogations are expected to uncover the lapses that led to this disaster on June 4. Sources suggest that poor planning and inadequate security measures may have contributed to the chaos, despite RCB’s massive fanbase turning up in droves to celebrate players like Virat Kohli, who has been with the franchise since its inception in 2008.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has distanced itself from the incident, clarifying that the event was solely organized by RCB. IPL Governing Council Chairman Arun Dhamal revealed he had warned RCB officials when the situation spiraled out of control outside the stadium. Shockingly, the celebrations inside continued uninterrupted, even as tragedy unfolded just beyond the gates. This raises serious questions about accountability and the prioritization of fan safety during such high-profile events in a cricket-crazed nation like India.
Adding a poignant perspective, Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir addressed the tragedy during a press conference on June 5, ahead of the team’s departure for England. Known for his blunt honesty, Gambhir condemned the concept of roadshows. ‘I was never a believer in roadshows. Never. Even after winning the 2007 T20 World Cup, I held the same view. The lives of people are far more important, and I will continue to say that,’ he stated. Expressing deep sorrow, he added, ‘What has happened is very tragic. My heart goes out to the families who have lost their loved ones. I hope nothing like this ever happens again because, as responsible citizens, we must take care of all this.’
As the dust settles on this dark chapter in Indian cricket, attention now shifts to what lies ahead. The incident has evidently displeased the top brass of the BCCI, and sources indicate that stricter guidelines for victory celebrations may be on the horizon. For now, the silence from Diageo remains deafening, leaving fans and stakeholders alike awaiting answers. Will this tragedy prompt a reevaluation of how cricket celebrations are conducted in India, ensuring that joy doesn’t come at the cost of precious lives? Only time will tell.