Bengaluru: Bengaluru Police on Friday confirmed that no new First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against cricketer Virat Kohli in connection with the tragic stampede near the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4, which claimed 11 lives and left several others injured.
The stampede occurred during celebrations of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) historic first Indian Premier League (IPL) title win, drawing massive crowds to the stadium area.
A complaint had been filed at Cubbon Park Police Station by social activist HM Venkatesh, who alleged that Kohli, as a prominent RCB player, played a role in inciting the crowd. The activist further claimed that the IPL promotes gambling and has “contaminated” the sport of cricket.
In the complaint, Venkatesh argued that Kohli’s public presence and influence contributed to the uncontrolled gathering, which ultimately resulted in the stampede. “Virat Kohli of the Bangalore RCB team is the most prominent among those who participated in such gambling and incited people to gather at one place, leading to this tragedy,” the complaint stated. The activist urged authorities to include Kohli and other team members as accused in the investigation.
Responding to the complaint, Bengaluru Police issued a statement clarifying that it will be considered as part of the ongoing probe already initiated in connection with the incident. “The complaint has been received and will be reviewed, but no separate FIR is being registered at this stage,” a senior police official said.
The stampede unfolded on Wednesday evening as thousands gathered outside the stadium to celebrate the team’s IPL triumph. Eyewitnesses cited overcrowding and inadequate crowd management as key factors behind the tragedy. Police have since launched a detailed investigation into the lapses that led to the fatal incident.
