Virat Kohli Named in Activist Complaint Following Bengaluru Stampede Tragedy
Two days after a tragic stampede claimed 11 lives outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL 2025 victory celebration, a local social activist has filed a complaint urging the police to name cricketer Virat Kohli as the prime accused in the case.
The activist, HM Venkatesh, submitted a letter to the Cubbon Park Police Station on Thursday, seeking the registration of an FIR against Kohli. According to Venkatesh, the scale of the celebration, Kohli’s involvement, and the lack of adequate crowd control should warrant holding the cricketer accountable for the tragedy that unfolded.
In his complaint, Venkatesh reportedly stated that the star batter, being the face of Royal Challengers Bengaluru and a public figure with massive influence, bore indirect responsibility for the chaos, particularly because his presence contributed to the large crowd that gathered.
The police, however, have acknowledged receiving the letter and informed Venkatesh that an FIR has already been registered in the case, which is currently under investigation. They assured that his request and the submitted letter will be reviewed as part of the ongoing probe.
This development comes amid mounting pressure on event organizers, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), DNA Entertainment Network, and various civic and police officials. On Thursday, the Karnataka government suspended multiple high-ranking police officials and arrested key members of the RCB and DNA teams, including the franchise’s Head of Marketing and Revenue, in connection with the stampede.
The state has also appointed a one-man judicial commission, headed by retired Karnataka High Court judge Justice Michael D’Cunha, to investigate the matter. The commission has been directed to submit its report within 30 days.
While no official response has been issued by Kohli or RCB regarding the activist’s request, the incident has sparked a broader discussion around the accountability of celebrity-led public events, the role of sports icons in fan safety, and the need for stricter crowd management protocols in large-scale celebrations.
The tragedy has cast a dark shadow over what was meant to be a historic moment for RCB — their first-ever IPL title. As investigations continue, the focus remains on ensuring justice for the victims and preventing such incidents in the future.
