Amid mounting questions over the Bengaluru stampede, public anger exploded on social media. The hashtag ‘ArrestKohli’ began trending on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday. Netizens expressed their disappointment over former India captain Virat Kohli, accusing him of insensitivity and inaction. What should have been a jubilant celebration of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s long-awaited IPL 2025 title has now spiraled into a storm of criticism, outrage, and tragedy. On June 3, RCB secured their maiden IPL crown after defeating Punjab Kings by six runs. But the euphoria was short-lived. Just a day later, a stampede near the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium during the victory parade killed 11 people and injured over 50 others.
Several posts slammed Kohli for not visiting any of the victims’ families or issuing a personal apology. Others alleged that he had quietly flown back to Mumbai with wife Anushka Sharma while Bengaluru mourned. Viral tweets shared screenshots of airport sightings and criticized his silence in the immediate aftermath.
Though Kohli and the RCB franchise had earlier released condolence messages, public sentiment suggests the gestures fell short. RCB also announced a compensation of ₹10 lakh each for the families of the deceased. Yet, many online felt the response lacked empathy and accountability.
Meanwhile, a criminal case has been filed against the RCB franchise, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), and event management firm DNA Networks. The FIR, registered under Section 125(a) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, was based on a complaint by an injured spectator, who claimed he was misled by social media announcements.
The public backlash has now turned political as well. The Chief Minister removed Political Secretary K. Govindaraju, also president of the state Olympic Association, who allegedly played a key role in coordinating the event alongside cricketing authorities.
