Karnataka CM Removes Political Secretary Govindaraju Following Bengaluru Stampede Fallout

In the wake of the tragic stampede during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) victory parade near Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah removed his Political Secretary K. Govindaraju from his post.

Govindaraju, who is also an MLC and serves as President of the Olympic Association, is believed to have played a pivotal role in facilitating the now-controversial cricket celebration. Sources claim he was key in aligning the government’s support with the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), which organised the parade in coordination with the RCB franchise and event management company DNA Networks.

The incident, which occurred on June 4, resulted in the death of 11 individuals and left over 60 injured in a stampede-like situation. Tens of thousands had gathered outside the stadium for a glimpse of their IPL heroes, but poor crowd management, lack of ticket clarity, and misinformation shared on social media are being blamed for the chaos.

The legal ramifications are expanding, with two more First Information Reports (FIRs) now registered. One recent case was filed by Roland Gomes, who sustained a shoulder dislocation during the melee. Gomes stated in his complaint that he was attracted to the event after seeing RCB’s promotional posts on social media, which claimed that tickets would be distributed at the venue and that even fans without tickets would be allowed entry. He said the post also promised a victory parade featuring an open-top bus. However, when he and his friends reached Gate Number 17, they were caught in the crowd surge, leading to injuries.

A case has since been registered against the RCB franchise, KSCA, and DNA Networks under Section 125(a) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, which deals with acts endangering public safety.

According to sources, Govindaraju played a crucial behind-the-scenes role in pushing for the parade despite these warnings. His influence within both political and sporting circles allegedly helped the organisers bypass standard protocols.

The Chief Minister, already facing mounting criticism, is said to be furious over how the situation was handled, especially the apparent lack of coordination between state officials, police, and event organisers.​