Chinnaswamy stampede | Case transferred to state CID: Karnataka govt informs High Court

The CID has been directed to constitute a SIT. A magisterial inquiry, under the Bengaluru Urban deputy commissioner, has also been ordered, and the report is expected within 15 days.

Bengaluru: A Special Investigation Team (SIT) will be formed to investigate the Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede that left 11 people dead and 56 injured, the state government informed the Karnataka High Court on Thursday.

An FIR has been registered at the Cubbon Park police station under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including culpable homicide not amounting to murder (105) and acts endangering human (125(1 and 2)). 

"The said FIR has been transferred to Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the state for investigation with a direction to constitute a Special Investigation Team within the CID for robust investigation," the memo stated. 

According to the memo, the stampede broke out at multiple entry gates of the cricket stadium during the Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) trophy celebrations on June 4. The deceased included five women and six men. Over 2.5 lakh people had gathered around the stadium. 

Of the 11 deaths, four occurred at Gate 7, two at Gate 6, one death at Gate 1 and four at Gates 17-21. Post-mortem examinations have been conducted on all 11 victims and the bodies handed over to the families, the memo stated. 

Among the 56 injured, 50 were treated as outpatients and discharged while six are receiving treatment as inpatients. Injuries ranged from minor to grievous: 51 were minor, two moderate and three grievous injuries, it noted. 

A magisterial inquiry, under the Bengaluru Urban deputy commissioner, has also been ordered, and the report is expected within 15 days.

The inquiry will look into the stampede and the cause of deaths, including lapses that have occurred, if any, to hold the said persons responsible, according to the memo. 

The state government has announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the family of each deceased person and is also covering all medical expenses of the injured. Th Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has announced an additional compensation of Rs 5 lakh. 

Stating that it is treating the issue with utmost seriousness, the government said it it was considering issuing fresh Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to better regulate public gatherings, meetings and celebrations of any kind. 

According to the government, Bengaluru police had deployed 1,318 personnel, including senior officers and constables, as well as 13 KSRP platoons of 25 personnel each, to maintain the law and order during the event. 

In addition, three fire tenders, two ambulances, two District–Special Weapons and Tactics Teams (D-SWATs), one water tanker, one command and control vehicle and four KSRP vehicles were also deployed, it said.