Following a deadly stampede after a cricket match near Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium that claimed 11 lives, demands for accountability have grown louder. Among them, an activist based in Bengaluru has gone to the police asking them to identify cricketer Virat Kohli as the prime accused.
The activist, HM Venkatesh, made his application at the Cubbon Park Police Station. He called on authorities to register an FIR against Kohli for being part of the RCB celebration event that proved fatal.
To this, police released an acknowledgement. They told him that an FIR to the stampede had already been registered and promised to go through the activist’s letter.
What was supposed to be a celebratory celebration of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL victory soon turned into a sight of pandemonium. The crowd outside the stadium stampeded uncontrollably, resulting in a deadly tragedy.
In the aftermath of the accident, four people were arrested by Bengaluru Police, including event management personnel from DNA Entertainment Pvt Ltd and RCB officials.
The FIR already filed in the case names RCB, DNA, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) as accused. It includes multiple serious charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Online criticism has intensified, with many questioning Kohli’s actions post-event. Some users argue that he should bear moral responsibility for the incident.
Discontent increased after it was known that Kohli had departed to London shortly after the celebrations. Critics questioned why he had not stayed back or met with families of victims.
Several fans and users have referred to a past incident when actor Allu Arjun to pinpoint what they perceive as a double standard. There was a stampede that had also occurred during a promotion show for Pushpa 2, leaving people injured.
In that case, it was booked reportedly by Allu Arjun. Based on this comparison, there were calls for the same treatment of Kohli.
