HC bars police from filing charge sheet against RCB

The Karnataka high court on Tuesday restrained the state police from filing a final investigation report (charge sheet) against Indian Premier League franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and event management company DNA Entertainment in connection with the June 4 stampede outside Chinnaswamy Stadium, which claimed 1] lives and left over 50 injured.

- Ayesha Arvind

Justice SR Krishna Kumar directed the police “not to file final report without leave of the court” after the counsel for RCB and DNA told the court they had been cooperating with the ongoing investigation by the police into the three suo motu First Information Reports (FIRs) registered against them and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) following the stampede. Petitioners said if a final report and a charge sheet were filed in the case, that will cause “irreparable harm” to them.

While the state government told the court the police were likely to take at least a month’s time to complete the investigation, the court said irrespective of the time taken, the police must not file any final report without its permission.