The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday down heavily on the state government and posed nine questions to it while hearing petitions related to arrests in the Bengaluru stampede case.
Eleven persons lost lives and several others were injured in a stampede that occurred outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru during the felicitation of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) earlier this month. The team had won the Indian Premier League (IPL) trophy for the first time in 18 years ever since the tournament began.
The court was informed that the investigation into the stampede had been transferred to the Crime Investigation Department (CID). However, arrests were still being made by the Bengaluru Central Crime Branch (CCB), and the accused were being produced by the Cubbon Park Police.
After the AG admitted to a procedural misstep in informing the court about the transfer of the case, the High Court posed nine key questions to the state:
- When and who took the decision to hold the victory celebration and in what manner?
- What steps were taken to regulate the traffic?
- What steps were taken to regulate the public/crowd?
- What medical and other facilities were arranged at the venue?
- Was any assessment made in advance on the number of people, who may be present at time of the celebration?
- Were injured persons given immediate medical attention? If not, why?
- How much time was taken to take the injured to the hospitals?
- Whether any SOP (standard operating procedure) has been formulated to manage a crowd of 50,000 and above in any sporting event or celebration of this nature?
- Was any permission sought to organise the event?
In response, the state sought time to file answers and is expected to submit its response in a sealed cover.
The AG informed the court that accused individuals are citing the discrepancy between investigating and arresting agencies to challenge the legality of their arrests and seek relief. He added that, for this reason, further details cannot be disclosed in open court “in the interest of justice.”
On Monday, Royal Challengers Bengaluru official Nikhil Sosale, arrested in connection with the stampede, told the court that his arrest was illegal. Event organiser DNA Entertainment Networks Private Limited, in its petition, claimed that the chief minister had invited everyone to the felicitation event.
The matter was taken up for hearing again on Tuesday, but was adjourned after the Advocate General sought time to respond to Sosale’s defence, telling the court, “Tomorrow 10:30 we will give you all details.”
The state’s counsel had asked for time to “put everything in black and white.”
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