Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium Declared “Unsuitable and Unsafe” Following Stampede Fiasco

The Justice Cunha Commission's 'unsafe' report for M. Chinnaswamy Stadium could leave RCB without a home venue for the 2026 IPL season.

Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium Declared “Unsuitable and Unsafe” Following Stampede Fiasco

The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium has been declared 'unsafe' by the Justice Cunha Commission report. (via Times of India)

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The fallout after the tragic stampede that occurred outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru following RCB’s 2025 IPL triumph, has continued. In a recent development, an investigative commission report has declared the stadium ‘unsuitable’ and ‘unsafe’.  

The Karnataka cabinet accepted the findings of the Justice John Michael Cunha Commission, which was established to investigate the stampede that occurred on June 4 outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, claiming 11 lives. Thousands of fans, far exceeding the stadium’s capacity, had gathered to celebrate RCB’s maiden IPL victory. As crowds swelled beyond manageable numbers, chaos erupted, leading to the fatal stampede.

Since the incident, the authorities deemed responsible have come under intense scrutiny. FIRs have been filed, all pointing to mismanagement as the cause of this tragic outcome. While many have held the state government and police accountable for the lapses, others pointed fingers at the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), DNA Entertainment, the event organizers, and the IPL franchise, for their role.

All of it prompted the Karnataka High Court to take suo moto cognizance. The one-member Justice Cunha Commission, in its report submitted to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, highlighted critical shortcomings that directly contributed to the deadly stampede.

It noted the absence of queuing and circulation zones separated, an insufficient number of gates for entry and exit, and a complete lack of emergency response systems and evacuation plans as primary causes.

The commission also raised serious questions about the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium’s credentials to host future large-scale events. It strongly suggested that the stadium requires a major infrastructural overhaul to continue hosting high-attendance events. Moreover, it warned that without such changes, the stadium could pose an unacceptable risk to public safety, urban mobility, and emergency preparedness.

Emphasizing the need for the Chinnaswamy Stadium to adhere strictly to international standards, the commission further declared that the existing design of the 32,000-capacity venue, which has hosted international cricket matches since 1974, is ‘unsafe’ and ‘unsuitable’ for mass gatherings.

Justice Cunha’s cited the critical lack of spacious holding areas for the crowd near entry and exit points, which forced the crowd to gather on the public road and footpaths, ultimately aggravating the risk:

The design and structure of the stadium was unsuitable and unsafe for mass gatherings… Any future venue should adhere to international standards.

Thereafter, it remains to be seen whether the Chinnaswamy Stadium will undergo a major renovation, given it is a venue for the 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup opener between India and Sri Lanka. The state government is expected to make a decision in the coming days.

Justice Cunha Commission Recommends Legal Action Against RCB, KSCA, and Police Officials for Stampede

The Justice Cunha Commission, in its report probing the June 4 stampede outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, has formally recommended that the government initiate legal action against several individuals it deemed responsible. The report named various KSCA, RCB, and police officials. 

Report Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede
The Cunha commission report on the Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede has directed a probe against several top officials. (via India Today)

Among those held responsible for negligence are five police officials, who were previously suspended from their duties after the tragic incident. This list includes then-Police Commissioner B. Dayananda, former IGP (Bengaluru West) Vikash Kumar Vikash, former DCP (Central) Shekhar H. Tekkannavar, and two other officers in charge of the Cubbon Park police station. In addition to these police personnel, the commission also recommended legal action against KSCA President Raghuram Bhat.

Other individuals named in the report include former KSCA secretary A. Shankar and ex-treasurer Jairam ES, Rajesh Menon, RCB’s vice-president, Dr. T. Venkat Vardhan, the Managing Director of DNA Entertainment, and Sunil Mathur, DNA’s Vice-President, have also been named in the report.