Bengaluru, June 11 (UNI) The Karnataka government on Wednesday held the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) squarely responsible for the deadly stampede outside M Chinnaswamy Stadium that claimed 11 lives, stating before the High Court that the organisers "invited the whole world" via social media without obtaining official permission.
During a hearing on petitions challenging the arrest of four individuals — including RCB marketing head Nikhil Sosale — Advocate General Shashi Kiran Shetty, appearing for the state, said the franchise had submitted only a "representation" on June 3, just an hour before a match, stating they shall conduct a victory parade. “This was not a permission request — it was merely an intimation,” Shetty told the bench.
He pointed out that despite not receiving formal approval, RCB and BCCI went ahead with widespread social media promotions late at night on June 3 and into the early hours of June 4, calling on fans to join the celebration.