Cabinet to decide action on RCB victory celebrations in next meet

The state government has deferred its decision on action to be taken against organisers of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) IPL victory celebration, after the cabinet on Thursday received the final report into the June 4 stampede that killed 11 people and injured over 50 outside M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

- Arun Dev

The two-volume report, submitted by retired high court judge justice John Michael ‘Cunha on July Il, was formally placed before the cabinet on ‘Thursday but was taken up at the end of the meeting. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, law and parliamentary affairs minister HK Patil said, “The cabinet has received the report of justice Cunha. We will study and discuss the same in the next cabinet meeting and we will communicate the decisions thereafter.”

‘Asked if any part of the findings had been reviewed or discussed, he said, “It is not known. We opened that as the last subject at the meeting today. The cabinet will study the report. We will discuss and decide on it in the next meeting.” On whether the report would be submitted to the court, Patil said, “Whenever it has to be submitted, we will submit it.”

While no immediate announcement was made, two ministers present in the meeting told HT that the cabinet had discussed the possibility of pressing criminal charges against RCB, KSCA and event organiser DNA Entertainment Networks. A final decision, they said, would be taken after a detailed discussion in the next cabinet.

Ahead of the cabinet’s consideration, the state government had blamed the event organisers in a status report submitted to the HC on June 12. The report stated that the organisers conducted the celebrations without police permission, failed to anticipate the size of the crowd, and neglected safety measures.