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A damning Karnataka government report has revealed that the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) organised their Indian Premier League (IPL) victory parade on June 4 without securing prior police permission, resulting in a stampede that claimed 11 lives and injured over 50. The Karnataka government, in its submission to the High Court, laid blame on RCB and affiliated organisers for failing to follow basic protocols, leading to chaos in central Bengaluru.

The revelations were made public on Thursday after the Karnataka High Court directed the government to release the findings of its inquiry. Initially, the state had sought to withhold the report, citing confidentiality, but the court ruled there was no legal justification for doing so.

According to the report, RCB informed the police of a possible parade only on the evening of June 3—just hours before the event—without submitting a formal application or necessary details such as estimated crowd size, traffic arrangements, or emergency measures. This violated the standard requirement of a seven-day advance notice.

“In the absence of such information… it was not possible for the licence-granting authority to consider the request positively,” the report stated, adding that the Cubbon Park Police Station explicitly declined permission for the event due to these lapses.

Despite this, RCB went ahead with the event, publicising it widely across social media platforms. One of the most widely circulated posts featured star cricketer Virat Kohli, urging fans to join the celebration. It went live at 8:55am on June 4. A later post at 3:14pm mentioned that free passes were required, but by then, thousands had already arrived expecting open access, having seen earlier posts promising a free-for-all parade starting from Vidhana Soudha and ending at Chinnaswamy Stadium.

The report highlights the massive response the announcement triggered. An estimated 3 lakh people swarmed the limited parade route and stadium, far exceeding the Chinnaswamy Stadium's capacity of 35,000. Bengaluru Metro recorded 9.66 lakh commuters that day—a spike of nearly 60% over average ridership.

Chaos ensued when fans gathered at the stadium gates, which were not opened in time. The report accuses RCB and associated organisers, including the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) and DNA Networks, of “complete mismanagement” of gate operations. Gates 1, 2, and 21 were forced open by the crowd. Sporadic stampedes occurred at multiple entry points.

Police on the ground tried to manage the surging crowds, but the absence of prior coordination left them scrambling. The report notes that although officials considered calling off the event, the fear of large-scale rioting across the city forced them to proceed cautiously.

“In light of the evolving ground situation and crowd psychology, abruptly cancelling the event was deemed too risky,” the report said.

The state government concluded that the tragedy stemmed from “poor planning, lack of coordination, and the failure by RCB and affiliated organisers to follow due process.”

As the fallout continues, questions are mounting about accountability—not just within the franchise, but also in the broader event management ecosystem. While the spotlight remains on RCB’s management and their decision to announce the event without clearances, Virat Kohli’s high-profile participation in social media promotions has drawn scrutiny for amplifying turnout without clarity on safety protocols.

RCB held parade without police nod; Virat Kohli post drew massive crowd: Govt report

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the financial engine of Indian cricket, reported a record revenue of ₹9,741.7 crore for the fiscal year 2023–24, underlining the scale, depth, and growing diversification of its business operations. This revenue figure not only confirms the BCCI’s dominance in global cricket economics but also reflects the commercial maturity of India’s cricketing ecosystem.

A new report by ICYMI, Rediffusion’s aggregated news platform, offers a detailed breakdown of the sources of BCCI’s income and reveals how cricket in India continues to evolve into one of the country’s most lucrative entertainment businesses.

Indian Premier League (IPL), which alone contributed ₹5,761 crore — a staggering 59.10% of the board’s total annual revenue. This figure reaffirms the IPL’s role as the cornerstone of Indian cricket economics, not only driving broadcasting and sponsorship income but also spurring digital rights, merchandising, and licensing deals.

Now in its second decade, the IPL has become more than a tournament — it’s a massive commercial property that rivals the biggest sporting leagues globally in terms of valuation and visibility.

<strong>ICC Distribution: India’s Clout on the Global Stage</strong>

The BCCI also received ₹1,042 crore from the International Cricket Council (ICC), accounting for 10.70% of total revenue. This figure underscores India’s outsized role in the global cricket economy — both as a revenue contributor and as a bargaining power at the ICC table.

With India hosting major tournaments and commanding large viewership globally, the ICC distribution reflects BCCI’s ability to convert its global relevance into hard cash.

A less visible but equally important revenue stream for BCCI came from interest income on fixed deposits and investments, amounting to ₹987 crore or 10.10% of total revenue. This highlights the board’s strategic financial management and its ability to generate returns beyond active cricket events.

Such robust interest income points to a strong corpus and prudent investment strategy — often underappreciated aspects of BCCI’s financial model.

While the IPL dominates headlines, BCCI also earned ₹361 crore (3.9%) from non-IPL media rights, largely attributed to international bilateral series and home tournaments. This income stream remains critical for ensuring year-round fan engagement and television presence beyond the IPL season.

One of the standout stories of FY24 was the commercial debut of the Women’s Premier League (WPL). The tournament contributed ₹378 crore — also 3.9% of BCCI’s overall revenue — in its first full fiscal cycle.

This impressive figure signals a promising future for women's cricket in India and marks a shift toward more gender-inclusive monetization in the sport. With increasing viewership, brand endorsements, and sponsorship traction, the WPL is poised to become a meaningful revenue driver in the coming years.

Revenue from India’s home international matches — including ticket sales, hospitality, and commercial rights — contributed another ₹361 crore (3.7%) to the BCCI’s books. While this stream may seem modest compared to IPL numbers, it remains vital for maintaining the traditional format of the game and sustaining interest in Test and ODI cricket.

The BCCI reported ₹400 crore (4.1%) under ‘Other Income,’ which likely includes a mix of sponsorship royalties, licensing agreements, staging fees, and other commercial partnerships. This shows that even when cricket isn’t being played on the field, the sport continues to sell — through brands, events, and IP.

Together, these numbers reflect a well-diversified and future-facing revenue model. The IPL’s consistent performance, combined with the emerging WPL, strong returns on investment, and substantial ICC payouts, illustrates a cricket economy built on strategic planning and deep fan loyalty.

As India continues to lead global cricket in viewership, sponsorship, and talent development, the BCCI's financial model serves as a blueprint for how sports organizations can scale revenue, invest in new opportunities, and create long-term economic impact.

The BCCI’s ₹9,742 crore revenue in FY24 is a testament to cricket’s enduring appeal in India and the board’s savvy in translating that appeal into diversified income. With fan engagement at an all-time high and new properties like WPL gaining traction, BCCI is not just managing Indian cricket — it’s building one of the world’s most valuable sports ecosystems.

BCCI earns ₹9,742 crore in FY24, IPL accounts for 59% of revenue

The Karnataka High Court has stepped in the Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede case to protect the rights of the accused by barring the state police from filing any chargesheet or final report without prior judicial approval. 

The court’s interim order comes as a reprieve for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), event partner DNA and key individuals including RCB’s marketing head, Nikhil Sosale.

Justice SR Krishna Kumar passed the order on Tuesday while hearing petitions from the accused parties seeking quashing of FIRs related to the June 4 incident, where a stampede broke out outside the stadium due to alleged mismanagement of match-day passes.

The petitioners, represented by senior advocates Sandesh J Chouta, CV Nagesh and Kiran S Javalli, argued that if the police were allowed to file the chargesheet before the High Court rules on the validity of the FIRs, it could undermine their right to a fair hearing. Justice Kumar agreed, stating that doing so would render the petitions pointless.

Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/special-coverage/bengaluru-stampede-karnataka-hc-presses-pause-on-arrests-signals-deeper-scrutiny-of-systemic-failures-70804.htm">Bengaluru Stampede: Karnataka HC presses pause on arrests, signals deeper scrutiny of systemic failures</a>

The court clarified that the investigation may continue, but no final report or chargesheet can be submitted unless the court permits it. Additionally, interim protection from arrest, already in place, has been extended until the next hearing on August 5.

The order underscores a judicial balancing act, allowing investigative agencies to proceed while safeguarding the legal rights of those facing serious allegations. The court's move reflects a growing trend of preemptive judicial scrutiny in high-profile public safety incidents involving corporate and sporting entities.

Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/how-it-works/rcb-challenges-cat-order-moves-karnataka-high-court-over-stampede-fallout-73398.htm">RCB challenges CAT order, moves Karnataka High Court over stampede fallout</a>

Karnataka HC stalls chargesheet in Chinnaswamy stampede case, offers interim relief to RCB, KSCA officials

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has sought judicial relief after Central Administrative Tribunal’s (CAT) findings link team to Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede that claimed 11 lives. Following a ruling by the CAT, which held the IPL cricket team “prima facie responsible” for the fatal crowd crush outside Chinnaswamy Stadium, RCB has approached the Karnataka High Court.

CAT blamed the team for the stampede near Chinnaswamy stadium on June 4 that resulted in 11 deaths and dozens of injuries. As per CAT, the announcement was "sudden", giving no time to the police to prepare for the crowd of three to five lakh people.

Read more: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/special-coverage/karnataka-hc-grants-interim-bail-to-rcb-marketing-head-in-stampede-case-70237.htm">Karnataka HC grants interim bail to RCB marketing head in stampede case</a>


"The RCB did not take the appropriate permission or consent from the Police. Suddenly, they posted on social media platforms and as a result of aforesaid information the public were gathered... the RCB created the aforesaid type of nuisance without any prior permission," CAT had said.

Now, RCB has formally petitioned the Karnataka High Court, moving to quash the CAT order.

It is to be noted that last month, the Karnataka High Court stepped in to provide interim legal relief to RCB and their event management partner DNA Entertainment Networks. The court temporarily restrained Bengaluru police from arresting or taking coercive action against officials of the two organizations, pending further investigation.

This judicial intervention comes amid growing debate over accountability for one of India’s deadliest crowd disasters in recent years. The stampede was sparked by a massive, unregulated turnout of nearly 5 lakh fans hoping to catch a glimpse of their cricketing heroes following RCB’s historic first IPL title in 18 years. The stadium, with a capacity of just 33,000, was vastly underprepared for the scale of the crowd.

Read more:<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/special-coverage/bengaluru-stampede-karnataka-hc-presses-pause-on-arrests-signals-deeper-scrutiny-of-systemic-failures-70804.htm"> Bengaluru Stampede: Karnataka HC presses pause on arrests, signals deeper scrutiny of systemic failures</a>


The incident triggered a chain of blame with state authorities pointing fingers at the organizers for holding the event without proper intimation, and organizers countering that the State failed to deploy adequate crowd control measures despite being aware of the event’s scale.

Legal proceedings have since escalated. A criminal case was registered against RCB, DNA, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), which controls use of the stadium. While KSCA has already secured interim relief, officials of RCB and DNA, including RCB’s marketing head Nikhil Sosale, who were briefly detained, have been granted interim bail.

RCB challenges CAT order, moves Karnataka High Court over stampede fallout

Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Rajasthan Royals' owner Manoj Badale and his company Emerging Media Ventures have reportedly sued Raj Kundra, the former owner of the cricket team for breaching the 2019 confidential settlement agreement.

According to a report by Reuters, Badale said Kundra was trying to blackmail him by alleging that he was defrauded out of the minority stake in the team. 

Kundra, who is married to Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty, had forfeited his 11.7% stake after being found guilty in betting charges in the 2015 tournament, after which Rajasthan Royals was suspended for two years.

Badale alleged that Kundra dropped him an email "out of the blue", which mentioned, he was "misled and defrauded of the rightful value of my 11.7% stake".

Badale, who is a venture capitalist, has sued Kundra at London's High Court. His lawyer Adam Speker had warned to report serious allegations to Indian authorities in a "blackmail attempt".

Badale holds a 65% stake in Rajasthan Royals, while the other two stakeholders are RedBird Capital Partners, a US-based equity firm that owns 15% and media executive Lachlan Murdoch has not disclosed exact shares. Reuters report said that Badale obtained an interim injunction against Kundra on 30 May, preventing Kundra from violating the settlement agreement by making derogatory remarks.

Meanwhile, Kundra's lawyers said he accepted the injunction should continue until a full trial of the lawsuit.

Rajasthan Royals won the inaugural edition of the IPL in 2008. They made the playoffs six times, including in IPL 2022. 

Rajasthan Royals' owner Manoj Badale accuses Raj Kundra of blackmail in UK court

In the aftermath of the tragic June 4 stampede at Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium, which left 11 dead and over 50 injured, the Karnataka High Court has stepped in to provide interim legal relief to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and their event management partner DNA Entertainment Networks. 

As per a report by Bar and Bench, the court has temporarily restrained Bengaluru police from arresting or taking coercive action against officials of the two organizations, pending further investigation.

Justice SR Krishna Kumar, hearing the plea, recorded assurances from the Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) that two of the three FIRs registered in the case would not be pursued further, since their contents overlap with the primary investigation now being handled by the Crime Investigation Department (CID). The Court directed RCB and DNA to fully cooperate with the probe.

This judicial intervention comes amid growing debate over accountability for one of India’s deadliest crowd disasters in recent years. The stampede was sparked by a massive, unregulated turnout of nearly 5 lakh fans hoping to catch a glimpse of their cricketing heroes following RCB’s historic first IPL title in 18 years. The stadium, with a capacity of just 33,000, was vastly underprepared for the scale of the crowd.

The incident triggered a chain of blame with state authorities pointing fingers at the organizers for holding the event without proper intimation, and organizers countering that the State failed to deploy adequate crowd control measures despite being aware of the event’s scale.

Legal proceedings have since escalated. A criminal case was registered against RCB, DNA, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), which controls use of the stadium. While KSCA has already secured interim relief, officials of RCB and DNA, including RCB’s marketing head Nikhil Sosale, who were briefly detained, have been granted interim bail.

Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/special-coverage/karnataka-hc-grants-interim-bail-to-rcb-marketing-head-in-stampede-case-70237.htm">Karnataka HC grants interim bail to RCB marketing head in stampede case</a>

In a notable development, the High Court itself has launched a suo motu public interest case to examine the wider systemic gaps that enabled the tragedy. A Bench led by Acting Chief Justice V Kameswar Rao has now formally impleaded RCB, DNA, and KSCA as parties in the case and indicated that it may appoint an amicus curiae (friend of the court) to assist in identifying structural failures and suggesting long-term solutions.

The State has submitted a sealed report outlining the causes of the stampede and its proposed preventive framework. The High Court is expected to review this report in detail during the next hearing scheduled for June 23.

Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/special-coverage/bcci-forms-committee-after-tragic-rcb-victory-stampede-in-bengaluru-70304.htm">BCCI forms committee after tragic RCB victory stampede in Bengaluru</a>

Bengaluru Stampede: Karnataka HC presses pause on arrests, signals deeper scrutiny of systemic failures

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has released a Request for Proposal (RFP) seeking proposals from reputable entities to acquire the rights and obligations to provide services that entails the provision of services relating to the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Women’s Premier League (WPL) Digital Properties.

The RFP covers rights and obligations associated with the management and delivery of IPL and WPL digital assets—including website, mobile platforms, interactive features, broadcast integrations, dynamic graphics APIs, and other tech-driven solutions. 

To participate, interested parties must pay a non‑refundable RFP fee of Rs 2,50,000 (plus applicable GST) and submit proposals by July 7, 2025. Upon payment, the RFP document becomes available; clarifications can be sought until June 20, and the deadline to purchase is June 25.

Eligibility criteria stipulate that bidding entities (or their affiliates) must have a minimum annual audited turnover of Rs 15 crore (or equivalent) and possess at least eight years of digital service experience. Priority is given to those with proven capabilities in sports and cricket, including interactive activations and broadcast integrations.


Read more: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-marketing/bcci-invites-proposals-for-stadium-signage-rights-and-management-for-major-cricket-events-including-ipl-and-wpl-53873.htm">BCCI invites proposals for Stadium Signage Rights and Management for major cricket events, including IPL and WPL</a>


"Interested parties demonstrating previous experience of delivering interactive activations in sport with broadcast integration will be preferred. BCCI would like to see specific examples and a breakdown of features and capabilities in this area. Interested Parties must provide example APIs or integrations for dynamic broadcast graphics," it was added.

"BCCI reserves the right to cancel or amend the RFP process at any stage in any manner without providing any reason," the document read.



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The Karnataka High Court on Thursday granted interim bail to four officials linked to Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) IPL victory event, arrested in connection with the June 4 stampede outside M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

As per the media reports, Justice S.R. Krishna Kumar while granting bail, observed "prima facie impermissible arrest influenced by political directives", referring to the Chief Minister’s public statement on June 5 that preceded the arrests. The four accused, Nikhil Sosale (RCSPL), Sunil Mathew, Kiran Kumar S and Shamant NP (DNA Networks), were taken into custody on June 6, despite not being named in the FIRs or held criminally liable at the time.

The court criticised the 10–11 hour delay in furnishing grounds of arrest, noting that the city police only communicated the grounds at 2:30 pm on June 6, much later than required by law. While the police denied this, the court said a signed acknowledgment by the accused confirmed the delay.

Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/how-it-works/rcb-marketing-head-alleges-selective-arrest-in-chinnaswamy-stampede-blames-cm-pressure-69661.htm">RCB marketing head alleges selective arrest in Chinnaswamy stampede, blames CM pressure</a>

The order underlined the lack of any direct or vicarious criminal liability on part of the individuals arrested, particularly since the FIRs did not name them, nor was there evidence of personal involvement in mismanagement. The HC also pointed to vague and evasive denials by the police when asked to clarify whether the arrests were influenced by the Chief Minister’s public comments. The petitioners had submitted media reports suggesting that their arrests were a consequence of political pressure rather than legal merit.

While granting interim relief, the court asked the accused to deposit their passports, remain within court jurisdiction, avoid witness tampering and cooperate with the ongoing criminal and magisterial probes. A personal bond of Rs 1 lakh with two sureties each was mandated.

Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/how-it-works/bengaluru-stampede-bcci-rcb-invited-the-whole-world-karnataka-govt-tells-hc-69854.htm">Bengaluru stampede: BCCI, RCB 'invited the whole world', Karnataka govt tells HC</a>

Karnataka HC grants interim bail to RCB marketing head in stampede case

The global spirits conglomerate Diageo is exploring stake sale options in Indian Premier League (IPL) outfit Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), as per a report by <em>Bloomberg</em>. The company, which holds the team through its Indian subsidiary United Spirits Ltd, is in early discussions with potential advisers about the possibilities to sell a part or all of the franchise, the report claims. 
 
<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/business-of-belief-what-rcbs-ipl-win-means-for-sports-branding-68758.htm">Read more: Business of belief: What RCB’s IPL win means for sports branding</a>

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/diageo-is-underleveraging-rcb-suhel-seth-on-royal-challengers-bengalurus-ipl-win-and-owners-branding-blind-spot-68786.htm">Read more: 'Diageo is underleveraging RCB': Suhel Seth on Royal Challengers Bengaluru's IPL win and owner's branding blind-spot</a>

At present, Diageo owns the team through its Indian unit United Spirits, and might seek a valuation of as much as $2 billion for RCB, according to the report. Diageo and United Spirits have not issued any public statements regarding the potential divestment.

Read more:<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/special-coverage/court-weighs-role-of-rcb-tweets-in-deadly-stampede-at-chinnaswamy-stadium-69558.htm"> Court weighs role of RCB tweets in deadly stampede at Chinnaswamy Stadium</a>

Initially, RCB was purchased by Vijay Mallya in 2008 — under the banner of his liquor empire, United Spirits Limited (USL). After Mallya’s exit in 2016 amid legal and financial troubles, Diageo assumed control via its majority stake in USL. While the day-to-day management remains with USL, ultimate corporate control now rests with Diageo.

The news of the potential stake sell comes a week after RCB lifted the IPL trophy for the first time in 18 years and the franchise's value continues to soar. The move also comes at a time when Diageo is facing mounting regulatory pressure from the Union Health Ministry to curb indirect advertising of alcohol during major sporting events like the IPL. 

Read more:<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/special-coverage/rcb-owner-moves-karnataka-hc-to-quash-criminal-case-over-stampede-69459.htm"> RCB owner moves Karnataka HC to quash criminal case over stampede</a>


Diageo mulls options for stake sale in RCB after IPL win

In a major development following the tragic stampede during Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) victory celebrations on June 4, the Bengaluru police on Friday arrested Nikhil Sosale, the marketing head and revenue of RCB from Diageo India. The stampede, which occurred outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, claimed 11 lives and left 64 others injured.

Sosale, who according to his LinkedIn profile leads the design, strategy, and business delivery for RCB's marketing program, was arrested after mounting pressure from the Karnataka government. He also worked at United Breweries overlooking its sports marketing business. His close social connections to celebrities such as Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma—both of whom follow his private Instagram account—have also drawn public attention.

The arrest follows Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s directive on Thursday to take stringent action against RCB, the event organiser DNA Entertainment Networks Pvt. Ltd., and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA). The FIR, registered by a police inspector at the Cubbon Park station, invoked serious charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita under sections 115 (Voluntarily causing hurt), 118 (Causing hurt or grievous hurt using dangerous means),121(Deterring a public servant from duty), 190 (Unlawful assembly)

Police also detained three staff members of DNA Entertainment Networks for questioning. Meanwhile, key KSCA officials, including its secretary and treasurer, are reported to be absconding.

Bengaluru police claimed that RCB’s management had not coordinated with the police prior to announcing their victory parade on social media. Their tweet—promoting the celebration—went viral, garnering over a million views. It was only after the post gained traction that RCB approached the police for formal permission, which was denied due to crowd safety concerns. Despite the refusal, the event drew a massive crowd, overwhelming arrangements and resulting in chaos.

In the wake of the incident, the Karnataka government suspended top police officials, including Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda, citing serious lapses in crowd management and public safety. The administration’s handling of the incident has come under severe criticism, with opposition leaders from the BJP calling for the resignation of both Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar.

To probe the circumstances surrounding the stampede, the state government has constituted a one-man judicial commission led by retired Karnataka High Court judge Justice Michael D’Cunha. The commission has been asked to submit its findings within 30 days.

Meanwhile, RCB announced on Thursday that it would provide financial assistance to the families of all 11 victims and support 33 injured individuals through a newly established relief fund titled ‘RCB Cares.’