On June 6, 2025, a police complaint was filed against Indian cricketer Virat Kohli in connection with a tragic stampede that occurred outside Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) IPL victory celebrations. The incident, which took place on June 4, resulted in the deaths of 11 individuals and injuries to over 50 others .
The complaint was lodged by social activist H.M. Venkatesh at the Cubbon Park Police Station, alleging that Kohli’s promotion of the event contributed to the massive crowd and subsequent chaos. While the precise reasons for implicating Kohli have not been detailed, the complaint suggests that his involvement in promoting the celebration may have incited the large gathering .
In the aftermath of the incident, four individuals, including RCB’s marketing head and three officials from the event management firm DNA Entertainment Networks, were arrested by Bengaluru Police. The Karnataka High Court declined to offer relief to the arrested individuals, indicating a serious legal outlook on the case .
Additionally, the Karnataka State Cricket Association’s secretary and treasurer resigned from their positions, signaling accountability from cricket administrators. The parent company of RCB has not released any statements regarding the incident .
The tragedy has sparked widespread public concern and discussions about crowd management during high-profile events. Authorities are expected to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the stampede to prevent such incidents in the future.
