A complaint has been filed against Virat Kohli, former India cricket captain and star player of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), over the June 4 stampede outside M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru that left 11 dead and dozens injured.
The complaint, lodged at Cubbon Park Police Station by social activist HM Venkatesh, alleges Kohli promoted “gambling through the IPL”, which incited the crowd and led to the tragedy.
Allegations Against Kohli
In his written complaint, Venkatesh claimed that the Indian Premier League (IPL) is not just a sporting event but “gambling that has contaminated cricket.” He further stated that Kohli was the most prominent figure in promoting this gambling culture and accused him of inciting fans to gather in large numbers at the venue, contributing to the deadly stampede.
“Virat Kohli of the RCB team is the most prominent among those who participated in such gambling and incited people to gather in a specific place, causing this tragedy,” the complaint read.
Police Response
Bengaluru police officials, quoted by ANI, clarified that no FIR has been registered against Kohli so far. Authorities said the complaint would be reviewed and considered as part of the broader investigation into the incident.
Arrests in the Case So Far
Meanwhile, a Bengaluru Sessions Court has remanded four individuals—including RCB’s Head of Marketing Nikhil Sosale and three event managers— to 14 days of judicial custody. The arrests were made during a joint operation by Cubbon Park police and the Central Crime Branch (CCB) at Kempegowda International Airport on June 6.
KSCA Officials Granted Interim Relief
Separately, the Karnataka High Court has granted interim relief to top office bearers of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), including President Raghu Ram Bhat, Secretary A Shankar, and Treasurer ES Jairam, who had moved the court to quash the FIR filed against them in connection with the tragedy.
In its interim order, the court instructed police not to take any coercive action against the KSCA officials until the next hearing on June 9.
As investigations unfold, public scrutiny continues to intensify around both event organizers and high-profile cricket figures involved in RCB’s IPL celebrations.
