Resignations Rock Karnataka State Cricket Association After Bengaluru Stampede At RCB IPL Celebration

Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) secretary A. Shankar and treasurer E. Jairam tendered their resignations after the Bengaluru stampede that took 11 lives and left several injured outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium during Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) IPL victory celebration on June 4.

Their resignations came hours after a PTI report revealed that the KSCA had lobbied for RCB's celebration following their IPL win at Vidhan Soudha the very next day after the final on June 3. It reaffirmed the fact that the KSCA, with the help of the Karnataka government, facilitated approvals for the franchise, which is currently under heavy scrutiny, with four of its officials booked by the Bengaluru City Police. The KSCA stated that the concerned company would “make necessary arrangements” for the event.

Shankar and Jairam issued a press release stating that they were taking “moral responsibility” for the tragedy, but said their “role was very limited.”

“This is to inform that due to the unforeseen and unfortunate events that have unfolded in the last two days, and though our role was very limited, but owing moral responsibility, we wish to state that last night we have tendered our resignation to our respective posts as the Secretary and Treasurer of the Karnataka State Cricket Association, by way of a letter dated 06.06.2025 to the President of Karnataka State Cricket Association,” they wrote in the press release.

Following the stampede, several top cops, including police commissioner B. Dayananda, and political leaders, including the Chief Minister's political secretary K. Govindaraj, have been suspended. An FIR has been filed at the Cubbon Park Police Station, naming RCB, KSCA president Raghuram Bhat, and event management company DNA Entertainment.

Following the FIR on Bhat, Shankar and Jairam are said to have submitted to the Karnataka High Court that gate and crowd management were not the association’s responsibilities.

Earlier, a planned open-top bus parade was cancelled. But RCB’s celebration inside the stadium continued despite the stampede outside.

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