In a shocking turn of events that has cast a dark shadow over Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) maiden IPL 2025 title victory, Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) Secretary A Shankar and Treasurer ES Jairam have tendered their resignations. The decision comes in the wake of a tragic stampede outside the iconic M Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4, 2025, which claimed 11 lives and left 75 others injured. The incident occurred as lakhs of passionate fans gathered to celebrate RCB’s long-awaited triumph, only for jubilation to turn into chaos due to inadequate crowd management.
Shankar and Jairam announced their resignation in a heartfelt press release on Saturday, citing moral responsibility despite their limited role in the event’s organization. ‘This is to inform that due to the unforeseen and unfortunate events that have unfolded in the last two days, and though our role was very limited, owing to moral responsibility, we have tendered our resignation as Secretary and Treasurer of the KSCA on the night of June 6, 2025,’ the statement read. The mounting public and legal pressure, even after receiving temporary relief from the Karnataka High Court, appears to have influenced their decision to step down.
The tragic incident has sparked a bitter blame game between the KSCA, RCB, and event management partner DNA Entertainment Networks Private Limited. According to court documents, KSCA argued that they bear no liability for the stampede, stating that the stadium was under RCB’s control as the IPL franchise had leased the premises. They further clarified that crowd management and gate operations were the responsibility of RCB and DNA Networks, under police supervision. ‘The role of KSCA is very limited as it only extends the venue and infrastructure,’ the KSCA stated in its writ petition, distancing itself from the organizational lapses that led to the disaster.
Documents also reveal that KSCA had sought government permission on behalf of DNA Networks to host a felicitation ceremony for RCB at the Vidhana Soudha Grand Steps on June 3, 2025, post the IPL 2025 Finals. While the Vidhana Soudha event concluded without incident, the situation outside Chinnaswamy spiraled out of control. Reports indicate that RCB’s social media call for fans to join the celebrations, which was later deleted, contributed to the massive congregation. A planned victory parade on an open-top bus was canceled after the tragedy unfolded, though a function inside the stadium went ahead, drawing sharp criticism for insensitivity.
Adding to the controversy, the parent company of RCB, Diageo, has remained conspicuously silent three days after the incident. Despite RCB issuing statements, announcing monetary compensation for the families of the deceased, and establishing an ‘RCB Cares’ fund for the injured, Diageo has offered no comment. Questions sent by media outlets regarding their stance on the tragedy, satisfaction with event arrangements, and impact on the victory celebrations have gone unanswered, raising eyebrows over their accountability in this crisis.
Meanwhile, legal repercussions continue to unfold. The police, under intense public scrutiny, have filed an FIR against KSCA officials without preliminary enquiry, though Justice SR Krishna Kumar has restrained coercive action against them until the next hearing on June 16, 2025. In a separate development, RCB’s marketing head Nikhil Sosale and three staffers from DNA Entertainment were arrested at Bengaluru airport in the early hours of Friday and remanded to judicial custody until June 19, 2025.
As Bengaluru mourns the loss of lives, this tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of crowd safety and meticulous planning at large-scale sporting events. RCB’s historic IPL victory, a moment of pride for millions of fans after years of near-misses—including three final appearances and five playoff qualifications without a title—has been tragically overshadowed. The cricketing community now awaits answers, accountability, and assurances that such a calamity will never recur, even as the silence of key stakeholders like Diageo leaves a bitter aftertaste.