Bengaluru stampede: Siddaramaiah says he learned of deaths only at 5.45 pm

Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday claimed that he became aware of the deaths caused by the stampede outside Chinnaswamy Stadium only at 5.45 pm on June 4, the day Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) held their IPL victory celebrations. The tragedy resulted in 11 fatalities and over 56 injuries.

“I came to know that deaths happened at 5.45 pm. At 3.50 pm, deaths were reported at the hospital, but I came to know about it only at 5.45 pm. Until that point, I was not aware of deaths taking place due to the stampede. I have taken action against whoever has done wrong,” Siddaramaiah said.

His statement suggests that he became aware of the incident only after the celebrations at Vidhana Soudha concluded. Notably, he did not attend the event at Chinnaswamy Stadium, which began around 6.10 pm and was attended by deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar.

His comments came a day after a letter written by Vidhana Soudha security officer MN Kariasavana red-flagged security concerns about holding the event outside the state assembly.

“Lakhs of security personnel are supposed to come to Vidhana Soudha. Since there is shortage of security personnel, making security arrangements will be difficult,” he wrote to department of personnel and administrative reforms secretary G Satyavanthi.

Distancing himself from the event’s organisation, he added, “The incident happened near the cricket stadium. I have no connection with that. It should not have happened.” He explained that the event was organised by the cricket association and that he had only attended after receiving an invitation. When asked about any planning, meetings or involvement of top leaders, he denied any knowledge. He told reporters, “Neither the deputy chief minister… (then corrected himself saying), no, neither the home minister, nor I know about it (planning meetings).”

“It was a normal procedure. The DPR secretary informed me about the event. I asked the chief secretary, and she said we could go ahead, especially since the police had agreed. Later, the secretary and treasurer of the cricket association met me and invited me. The function was organised by them—I only attended. Then the governor also came,” he said.

Responding to calls for resignations, Siddaramaiah questioned the precedent, citing other tragedies where resignations were not demanded: “A bridge fell off, did anyone resign then? In Kumbh Mela, 58 people died, did BJP or Kumaraswamy ask for the resignation of the Prime Minister?”

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) escalated its criticism of the Congress government over the tragedy. Senior BJP leaders, including leader of Opposition R Ashok and MLA Prabhu Bhamla Chavan, protested at the steps of Vidhana Soudha, holding chief minister Siddaramaiah, deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar, and home minister G Parameshwara responsible, and demanding their immediate resignations.

“The real culprits are the chief minister, the deputy CM, and the home minister. All three should resign. This is the demand of the entire state,” Chavan said, accusing the government of scapegoating suspended police officers. “They are being sacrificed to shield the ministers. We say, don’t offer compensation. Instead, take moral responsibility and resign.”

Ashok slammed the government for rushing the event without proper planning, resulting in loss of lives. “This is not a government, it is a Tughlaq Durbar. Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar must step down,” he said, demanding compensation of ₹1 crore for each deceased and stressing the need for accountability.

He also criticised the continuation of celebrations after the first deaths were reported. “By the time the event started around 4.30 to 5 pm, seven to eight deaths had already occurred. Still, the deputy CM went to another event where crackers worth ₹1 crore were burst. After 11 deaths, crackers were burst, do you even have humanity?” Ashok asked.

The BJP also opposed the suspension of police officers, including then Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda, asserting the police had no fault as permission for the parade had been denied. “The BJP stands with the police and will fight for them,” Ashok said.

Referring to the incident as a “government-sponsored murder,” Ashok said the Congress leaders had lost all moral authority. “You cannot rule the state on the dead bodies of eleven people. You are accused in the eyes of law,” he said.

The BJP has announced plans to meet Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot to seek his intervention and push for the dismissal of the government.

Ashok also took a dig at Congress leaders by dubbing the chief minister and deputy chief minister the “Real Culprits of Bengaluru,” twisting the RCB team acronym. “Businessman Vijay Mallya earlier promoted the team RCB—Royal Challengers Bengaluru — but the CM and Deputy CM are the new RCB — Real Culprits of Bengaluru,” he said.