Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister is seen at a meeting in Bengaluru
RCB stampede: Dy.CM D K Shivakumar’s order to police not to open stadium gates led to tragedy, alleges complaint
‘Dy.CM Shivakumar gave this instruction as he wanted the presence of a huge crowd outside the stadium for his arrival. Chinnaswamy Stadium has a total of 13 gates.’
In what may spell trouble for Deputy Chief Minister (Dy.CM) and Bengaluru Development Minister D K Shivakumar, a complaint filed against him at the Cubbon Park police station alleged that he directed the police not to open the gates of Chinnaswamy Stadium to ensure the presence of a massive crowd outside during the entry for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) event on June 4. The complaint cited this as a major cause for the stampede that killed 11 people and injured over 70 others.
Activist Abraham T J filed a complaint (also read – Complaint filed against Dy.CM and CM Siddaramaiah) against Shivakumar, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Home Minister G Parameshwar, and several others on Thursday. The 40-page complaint lists many instances of alleged mismanagement. However, what’s shocking in the complaint are multiple instructions from Shivakumar to the police and other government functionaries a day before and on the day of the RCB victory celebration.
The complaint said, “A low-ranking police officer contacted Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Central, Shekhar H Tekkannavar over the wireless walkie-talkie, informing him about the uncontrollable situation outside the stadium and seeking intervention to get all the gates of the stadium opened to enable the crowd to enter through multiple entries, easing the concentration of the crowd at the only three gates that were open.” The DCP was posted at Vidhana Soudha for the felicitation event organised by the State for RCB.
The complaint further alleged that DCP Tekkannavar, to convey the instructions of Shivakumar, had asked them to call on the mobile phone. On the phone, he informed a subordinate that he was instructed directly by Shivakumar not to open all the gates because Dy.CM wanted the presence of a huge crowd outside the stadium for his arrival. Chinnaswamy Stadium has a total of 13 gates.
The complaint also stated that although RCB had written to City Police Commissioner (now suspended) B Dayananda seeking permission to hold a victory parade, the same was cancelled. The complainant alleged that Shivakumar directed Dayananda to refuse granting permission for the planned parade. This direction was given because Shivakumar did not want the crowd to disperse. The complaint also said that Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh, even before the final IPL match was played, orally approved the holding of the event at Vidhana Soudha, and she was directed by Shivakumar.
The complaint said Shivakumar had a commercial interest, as he was in contact with M/s. Diageo Pic, the British distiller and current owner of RCB through its Indian unit, United Spirits Limited. He was negotiating to purchase the franchise. The deal was not progressing because the franchise was valued at $1 billion, but the owners were quoting a value of $2 billion.
EoM