Hand over RCB event stampede probe to CBI: BJP leader writes to Siddaramaiah

India Today

3 days ago

BJP leader R Ashoka has urged Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to hand over the investigation into the stampede during Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) victory celebrations outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium to the CBI.On June 4, the stampede outside the stadium led to the deaths of 11 people, while 56 were injured, as a large number of people thronged to participate in the RCB's maiden IPL victory celebrations.advertisementIn a letter to Siddaramaiah on Saturday, Ashoka, who is the Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, said the culprits must be identified and justice should be provided to the innocent lives lost in the tragedy.
"This incident has become a topic of national discussion and is considered a 'black mark' in the history of Karnataka sports. Allegations and counter-allegations have taken place between the police and the state government regarding this matter," Ashoka said.Slamming the state government over the stampede, the BJP leader said, "Media reports indicate that the stampede occurred due to the police's failure to manage the crowd. However, the government, by suspending police officers, has washed its hands of the matter.""The Honourable Central Administrative Tribunal, during the hearing of a petition filed against one such suspension, opined that holding only the police officers responsible is not appropriate," he added.Ashoka stressed that the culprits had still not been identified after over two months and said the people were raising concerns about the probe."Therefore, I earnestly request you to hand over this case to the CBI without any political interference. The true culprits must be identified, and justice should be provided for the innocent lives lost in this tragedy," Ashoka wrote to Siddaramaiah.CRIMINAL CASES AGAINST RCB, KARNATAKA CRICKET BODYMeanwhile, the Karnataka Cabinet has approved the filing of criminal cases against RCB and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), following the acceptance of the final report submitted by the Justice Michael D'Cunha Commission.The one-man inquiry commission led by retired Justice John Michael D'Cunha found that all stakeholders went ahead with the event despite knowing it was impossible to manage the crowd safely. The report cites 'gross negligence and dereliction of duty' by all parties involved.On July 17, the state government squarely blamed the RCB for the June 4 stampede. In its report submitted to the High Court, the government pointed to a series of lapses, including a public video appeal by cricketer Virat Kohli that it said drew an overwhelming crowd despite police denying permission for the event.advertisementThe Siddaramaiah-led government had first launched a magisterial inquiry into the stampede and directed the police to investigate the criminal aspects of the case. Multiple first information reports were filed against RCB, the KSCA, and event management firm DNA Entertainment for negligence and culpable homicide.Later, the government ordered a judicial inquiry and suspended five police officers, including the-then Bengaluru Police Commissioner D Dayananda and two other Indian Police Service officers, for failing in their duties.- Ends(with inputs from PTI)Must Watch
IN THIS STORY#Karnataka#Bengaluru#Bharatiya Janta Party