A few hours before the Bengaluru stampede that claimed 11 lives during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL victory celebrations, the city police had objected to felicitating the champions at the Vidhana Soudha citing multiple reasons. However, the Karnataka government went ahead with the programme ignoring the red flags.
M N Karibasavana Gowda, DCP (Vidhana Soudha security), red-flagged the dangers in a June 4, 2025, letter written to the government secretary to the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR). In 10 points, Gowda mentioned concerns including security, time to arrange vital installations, and threats to them.
Gowda’s response came after the DPAR sought his opinion on holding the felicitation event on the grand steps of the Vidhana Soudha to honour the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) players.
1) RCB has a huge fan following across the country. If the event on the grand steps is organised, lakhs of cricket fans will come to the Vidhana Soudha. There will be a problem as there is a shortage of officials or staff for bandobast.
2) We request that the distribution of passes, online or offline, for the public to attend the felicitation at Vidhana Soudha be stopped.
3) At the June 4 event, scheduled for 4 pm, it is highly likely that the secretariat officials or staff would bring their family members. We request you to declare a half-day holiday for the officials or staff and also to direct them not to attend the event or bring their families to the event.
4) Vidhana Soudha is a vital installation. We have requested that CCTV cameras be installed in front and around the Vidhana Soudha, but the cameras have not been installed. With lakhs of fans arriving at the Vidhana Soudha, CCTV cameras are necessary. But without CCTV cameras, it will pose a threat to the security system.
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5) As the programme is being held on the Vidhana Soudha’s grand steps, we want a no-objection certificate to be issued by the Public Works Department (PWD). Also, the organisers must be informed that the police should be allowed to conduct security checks at least two hours before the event.
6) With electric equipment used during the event, the concerned engineer must issue a fitness certificate. Also, we request a written communication be sent to the assistant executive engineer and the PWD (electrical).
7) The organisers must allow the anti-sabotage check squad at least two hours before the event.
8) As the RCB fan following is huge, police personnel from outside the city will be required. It will require time.
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9) The law and order and the traffic police will have to coordinate to conduct such a huge event and there is not enough time.
10) There are chances of using drones during such events and anti-drone systems are required.
At the end of the letter, the DCP wrote, the Vidhana Soudha is a heritage building and a vital installation. Keeping security in view, we need time to conduct time to conduct the event. Despite this, we will abide by the government’s decision.
