CID to investigate the Bangalore stampede case; investigations underway

New Delhi (India) June 8: On Saturday, the Karnataka government directed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to look into the recent stampede at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The CID officers visited the Karnataka State Cricket Association's (KSCA) office to start their investigation.

Late Friday evening, the Cubbon Park police, who had been looking into the case, turned over the case file including the three FIRs filed in connection with the crime to the CID who formally took over the investigation.

The CID has set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) with 15 police officers to look into the event. The team is headed by superintendent of police Shubhanwita. It also includes two deputy SPs and other police inspectors.

The CID is expected to go to court on Monday to request police custody of the four men who have already been arrested: manager Kiran Kumar, 40; ticketing officer Shamanth SP, 38; DNA Networks director Sunil Mathew, 49; and marketing head Nikhil Sosale, 38, of Royal Challengers Bengaluru. On Friday, all four were placed under judicial remand.

CID is also expected to coordinate with hospitalised survivors to issue notifications to more accused. On June 11, Bengaluru Urban DC Jagadeesha G will summon more than 25 injured people to provide testimony as part of the parallel magistrate probe. According to sources, Police officers present during the stampede would receive notices.

An official said, “The SIT, apart from questioning the accused, Nikhil Sosale, marketing head of RCB, Sunil Mathew, director and vice- president, Sumanth, working in the ticketing section and Kiran Kumar, manager, all employees of DNA Entertainment Networks Private Limited, will also be issued notices to Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) Administrative Committee, owner of DNA Entertainment Networks Private Limited and the RCB Franchise management to appear for questioning. Failing to respond to the notices might result in their arrests unless the court intervenes.”

John Michael D'Cunha, a retired high court judge, was also given a month to report to the Karnataka government on the stampede outside Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4 that killed 11 people and injured over 75 others. 

A crowd of people had gathered outside Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday night to celebrate the RCB team's IPL victory which caused a stampede. 

Aadrika Tayal