Public Outrage Escalates Over Chinnaswamy Stampede as Arrests Begin and Kohli Faces Social Media Backlash
The tragic stampede outside Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4, which claimed 11 lives and left 56 others injured during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL victory celebrations, has sparked widespread public outrage and a wave of arrests.
The aftermath of the incident has quickly transformed into a legal and political firestorm, with both the public and the judiciary demanding accountability.
As emotions ran high across the state and on social media, authorities responded swiftly, arresting several individuals linked to the event’s organisation, including officials from the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) franchise and event management company DNA Entertainment Networks.
The arrests were made early on Friday at the Bengaluru airport as the accused allegedly attempted to flee the city.
#ArrestKohli Trends Amidst Social Media Fury
Cricketer Virat Kohli, the face of RCB and one of India’s most beloved sports personalities, found himself at the centre of an unexpected social media storm. As the hashtag #ArrestKohli trended on X (formerly Twitter), users criticised the former Indian captain for departing for London without publicly acknowledging the victims or meeting their families.
Some drew parallels between Kohli and Telugu actor Allu Arjun, who was arrested after a deadly stampede at one of his film events in Hyderabad in December 2023.
“You cried after an IPL win, but where were those tears for your fans who died attending your celebration?” one user questioned. Others accused Kohli of hypocrisy, citing his emotional public image and advertisement campaigns promoting empathy and social values.
While no formal police case has been filed against Kohli, a complaint was lodged by social activist H.M. Venkatesh, blaming him for triggering the mass gathering.
However, according to PTI sources, no First Information Report (FIR) has been registered so far against the cricketer.
Arrests, FIRs, and a Shifting Political Landscape
The fallout from the tragedy has had serious legal consequences for several individuals. Among those arrested was Nikhil Sosale, RCB’s marketing head, whose plea for relief was dismissed by the Karnataka High Court.
His arrest, along with that of Sunil Mathew (Vice President and Director of DNA), Sumanth (ticketing official), and Kiran Kumar (event manager), followed a failed attempt to leave the city.
Meanwhile, three senior officials from the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) — the president, secretary, and treasurer — who had reportedly gone into hiding after the Chief Minister’s directive to arrest top RCB, DNA, and KSCA officials, received interim legal protection.
The High Court granted them protection from arrest until the next hearing scheduled for June 16.
Adding to the ongoing administrative shakeup, the Karnataka government transferred ADGP (Intelligence) Hemant Nimbalkar, whose absence from the list of suspended officials had drawn criticism.
Earlier, five senior police officials, including Bengaluru Police Commissioner B. Dayananda, were suspended in connection with the incident.
Seemant Kumar Singh has since been appointed as the new Bengaluru Police Commissioner and assumed charge on Friday.
Chief Minister Takes Political Heat
Under intense pressure following the tragedy, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah took the bold step of removing his political secretary K. Govindaraju from his post.
Though no official reason was cited, media reports suggest that Govindaraju played a key role in recommending the RCB felicitation event at the Vidhana Soudha, which preceded the stadium event by mere hours.
Multiple sources told The Telegraph that several cabinet ministers had raised concerns over Govindaraju’s involvement during a heated cabinet meeting, ultimately prompting his dismissal.
An official order stated: “K. Govindaraju is hereby relieved from the post of political secretary to the Chief Minister with immediate effect.”
Responding to the allegations, Govindaraju, who is also a sitting Congress MLA, denied influencing the decision and claimed his comments had been misinterpreted.
“I never advised the Chief Minister on organising the felicitation. I head the Karnataka Olympic Association, but that gives me no authority over state cricket matters,” he stated.
As investigations continue, the Karnataka High Court has adopted a stern stance, refusing relief to some accused while demanding accountability from organisers.
Sosale’s legal counsel argued that his arrest was illegal, arbitrary, and violated his constitutional rights, but the bench remained unconvinced.
Simultaneously, a fresh FIR has been registered against RCB, DNA Entertainment, and KSCA, based on a formal complaint lodged by a victim of the stampede.
This new legal development signals deeper scrutiny of the event’s planning and crowd management mechanisms.
The opposition, particularly the BJP and JDS, has seized the moment to corner the ruling Congress government. P. Rajeev, BJP’s general secretary in Karnataka, filed a police complaint demanding legal action against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, and Home Minister G. Parameshwara.
Rajeev accused the government of politicising the RCB victory and using it for personal publicity. “Siddaramaiah is accused number one. Shivakumar is number two.
Both tried to gain political mileage from the IPL win, and it cost lives,” Rajeev alleged. While he didn’t question Parameshwara’s intent, he accused him of gross negligence in his role as Home Minister.
The tragic events of June 4 have left a permanent scar on the jubilant memory of RCB’s long-awaited IPL title win. What began as a celebration has become a grim episode marked by death, controversy, and legal action.
With more arrests likely and political accountability being debated at every level, the incident has quickly evolved into one of Karnataka’s most high-profile public tragedies in recent memory.
As the probe intensifies and judicial scrutiny deepens, public sentiment remains inflamed, demanding justice for the victims —nd answers from those in charge.
