B'luru deaths: RCB, others booked, top cop suspended

The Karnataka Police on Thursday booked Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), event management firm DNA Entertainment Private Limited, and the administrative panel of the state cricket association for culpable homicide, unlawful assembly and assault over the deaths of 11 people ahead of a celebration marking the city team's maiden IPL title a day ago.

- Arun Dev

Chief minister Siddaramaiah ordered the arrests of representatives of the organisations booked by police, announced a judicial probe and said that five police officers, including the city's top cop B Dayananda, were suspended as anger mounted over the deaths at the M Chinnaswamy stadium on Wednesday afternoon, and questions swirled about lax arrangements, lack of permission and the role of the franchise that allegedly pressed on with a victory parade despite being warned.

Many of these questions came from the Karnataka high court, which took cognizance of the tragedy and asked the government to submit a status report.

"The stampede incident...was due to RCB franchise, DNA, and KSCA administrative committee giving permission for the programme and arranging the programme at KSCA stadium without adequate arrangements for the programme, without adequate security for fans to enter peacefully, without balanced arrangements for fans," said the first information report in Kannada, filed at the Cubbon Park police station.

"Additionally, thousands of fans gathered around the stadium due to RCB's official posts on social media and social networking sites providing misleading information about free entry for the public at gates, leading to fan gatherings. This incident occurred due to this reason," the FIR, which HT has seen, added.

The police invoked sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 115 (voluntarily causing hurt), 118 (voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt by using dangerous weapons or means), 121 (voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 190 (liability of members of an unlawful assembly for offences committed in pursuit of a common object), 132 (assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging their duty), and 125 (12) (acts endangering life or personal safety of others) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.