Did the K'taka Cabinet Accept the D'Cunha Commission Report on the Stampede?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- The Karnataka Cabinet approved the D'Cunha Commission report on the stampede.
- Legal actions will be initiated against named parties.
- The incident resulted in 11 fatalities and numerous injuries.
- Government officials, including police, are under scrutiny.
- Improved crowd safety measures are essential moving forward.
Bengaluru, July 24 (NationPress) The Cabinet of Karnataka has approved the findings of retired High Court Justice John Michael D’Cunha regarding the tragic stampede that occurred on June 4 at Chinnaswamy Stadium during the RCB victory celebrations, which resulted in 11 fatalities. The Cabinet has resolved to pursue legal action against the police officials, the RCB franchise, DNA, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA).
During a press conference at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru, Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs H.K. Patil stated on Thursday: "The Cabinet has made a decision to initiate both legal and departmental actions against the private organizations and government personnel mentioned in the report. This includes actions against RCB, DNA Entertainment Networks Pvt Ltd, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA)."
Legal proceedings will target KSCA President Raghuram Bhat, former KSCA President A. Shankar, former Treasurer Jayaram E.S., RCB Vice President Rajesh Menon, and DNA MD Dr. Venkatavardhan, as announced by Minister Patil.
"In response to the stampede at Chinnaswamy Stadium during the RCB celebration, a one-man judicial commission was established under retired High Court Justice John Michael D'Cunha. The Karnataka Cabinet has given its approval to the report submitted by Justice D'Cunha," Minister Patil emphasized.
"After careful discussions, the Cabinet has accepted the report concerning the stampede incident that occurred on June 4, 2025, during the RCB celebration at the stadium. The Cabinet has decided to initiate legal action against the private entities and government officials mentioned in the report, as well as conduct departmental inquiries against the implicated government officials," he reiterated.
Eleven individuals lost their lives and over 50 were injured in the stampede that took place near Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) victory festivities on June 4.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had previously announced the suspension of five senior police officers, including Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda and DCP (Central) Ramesh Banoth, due to serious failures in crowd management.
“This incident is one of the most tragic occurrences I’ve witnessed in public life,” Siddaramaiah remarked during a press briefing. “Our hearts are heavy, and we will ensure that strict measures are enforced against all responsible parties.”
The BJP has labeled the deaths as government-sponsored murders, calling for the immediate resignation of Home Minister G. Parameshwara.
In light of the stampede incident, the Karnataka High Court has initiated a suo motu Public Interest Litigation (PIL) and requested a report from the Congress-led Karnataka government. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is also investigating the situation, while the state government has mandated a Magisterial probe led by the Deputy Commissioner of Bengaluru Urban into the tragedy.