RCB transferred Karnataka HC to fire

Royal Challengers Sports Private Limited, which operates the IPL franchise RCB, has moved the Karnataka High Court seeking the FIR registered against them to be quashed. Four people, including RCB’s head of marketing, were arrested after a complaint was lodged following the death of 11 individuals in the stampede outside the M Chinnaswamy stadium. RCSPL and its COO Rajesh V Menon have approached the top court in the state.

RCB moves Karnataka HC

As per Live Law, the petition claims that RCB had made the announcement of the victory parade after holding extensive discussions with the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), officials of DNA Network, police officials and after RCSPL received an oral confirmation. The petition claimed that social media posts on RCB’s handles clearly stated that entry into the stadium was only for those who registered on the website and valid pass holders, adding that this was done keeping the seating capacity in mind.

The plea states that RCB were informed orally on the morning of June 4 about the permission for the victory parade being withdrawn by the Bengaluru police. Further, it also stated that it was around the same time that the team had been informed that CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar were planning to felicitate the team in Vidhan Soudha.

“Accordingly, the RCB team was invited to the Vidhana Soudha for the felicitation. The RCB Officials were also informed that from the Vidhana Soudha, after the felicitation program, the RCB team could proceed to the stadium for the celebrations,” the petition stated.

“Entire public invited by CM”

The plea further stated that it was Karnataka CM Siddaramiah who had invited the public to the felicitation event. The team furnished a print out of the CM’s tweet as proof.

Further, the petition states that RCSPL got to know about fatalities outside the stadium only when the event in Chinnaswamy was underway following which the event was wrapped up hastily.

In its petition, RCSPL claimed that the prosecution and proceedings against the petitioners was to shift the blame for the stampede on to private entities and individuals.

“This is particularly evident in the context of the public pronouncements made by the Chief Minister directing the “immediate arrest” of RCB executives, despite an ongoing official inquiry into the incident and suspension of police officials for dereliction of duty,” it stated.