A tragic stampede outside Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) IPL 2025 victory celebration resulted in 11 deaths and dozens of injuries. The incident has triggered widespread outrage, legal action, and intense scrutiny of all parties involved, including star cricketer Virat Kohli.
What Makes This Case Unique?
Celebrity Accountability in Public Tragedy:
Unlike most stampede cases in India, this incident has seen a direct complaint filed against a sports celebrity—Virat Kohli—by activist H.M. Venkatesh and the Real Fighters Forum, demanding that he be named as a primary accused. The complaint alleges that Kohli, as the face of RCB and a driving force behind the celebrations, shares responsibility for the event’s poor planning and lack of crowd control.
Legal Precedent and Public Pressure:
While the official FIR currently names RCB, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), and event organizer DNA Networks, activists are seeking to expand the scope to include Kohli personally. This pushes the boundaries of legal accountability for celebrity involvement in large-scale public events.
Social Media Backlash and Public Sentiment:
Kohli, who was recently celebrated as a national hero, faced a dramatic shift in public opinion. The hashtag #ArrestKohli trended widely, with critics accusing him of insensitivity and prioritizing personal plans (allegedly leaving for London soon after the incident) over addressing the tragedy. This backlash was met with an equally strong defense from his supporters, creating a polarized online debate.
Key Allegations Against Virat Kohli
Negligence as Event Face:
The complaint claims that Kohli, as RCB’s star and a central figure in the celebrations, failed to ensure adequate safety measures and crowd management, despite knowing the massive turnout such an event would attract.
Promotion and Participation:
Activists allege that Kohli’s active promotion and participation in the event contributed to the chaos, arguing that his involvement increased fan turnout and responsibility for public safety should extend to him.
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Demand for Criminal Accountability
The complaint urges police to name Kohli as a main accused under sections covering culpable homicide not amounting to murder, voluntarily causing hurt, unlawful assembly, and rash acts endangering human life, as outlined in the broader FIR against RCB and organizers.
Current Status
- The police have accepted the complaint and stated it will be considered as part of the ongoing investigation, alongside the main FIR against RCB, KSCA, and DNA Networks.
- No direct FIR has been filed against Kohli yet, but the demand for his inclusion is under review as investigations continue.
- Four individuals, including an RCB employee, have been arrested so far in connection with the tragedy.
Why This Case Stands Out
This is one of the rare instances in Indian sports history where a player’s off-field role is being legally challenged in the aftermath of a public disaster. The case could set a precedent for the extent of accountability that public figures bear for events they endorse or headline, especially when public safety is compromised.
“In his complaint, [the activist] alleged that the event was poorly managed and overcrowded, and that Kohli, as a key face of the celebration and RCB brand, should be held accountable for not ensuring safety measures.”
The outcome of this investigation could reshape how celebrity-led public events are organized and the legal responsibilities attached to star power in India.
