Bengaluru Stampede
No FIR registered yet: Police on complaint against Virat Kohli over Bengaluru stampede
Bengaluru/IBNS: No First Information Report (FIR) has been registered yet against India's cricket icon Virat Kohli, said Bengaluru police after a complaint was filed against the batter over the fatal stampede outside M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in the city, media reports said.
Police sources told Hindustan Times that no FIR has been registered yet against Kohli, who was a part of the mega celebrations of Royal Challengers Bengaluru's maiden win in Indian Premier League (IPL).
Social activist HM Venkatesh alleged in his complaint that Kohli was promoting "gambling through IPL" and persuaded a huge crowd that caused the stampede, the daily reported.
Police said complaint against Kohli will be considered within the existing case and as a part of the ongoing probe into the tragedy.
Eleven people died and nearly 50 were injured when the crowd outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium swelled and went uncontrollable turning the celebratory mood into a nightmare within moments.
During a press conference this evening, Siddaramaiah, whose government is facing flak for alleged lack of proper arrangement, stated the administration did not expect the tragedy, as the stadium can accommodate 35,000 people.
"But the number of people who turned up is estimated to be two-three lakhs. We assumed there would be as many people as the stadium would accommodate or a bit more, but not as many as had actually turned up," Siddaramaiah said.
He announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the families of those who were killed in the stampede, and free treatment for the injured.
"I have ordered a magisterial inquiry into this tragedy. Appropriate action will be taken against the guilty. Instructions have been given to submit the investigation report within 15 days," he said.
The Bengaluru Police has arrested the Royal Challengers Bengaluru marketing head Nikhil Sosale, in connection with the stampede.
Sosale, the head of marketing and revenue for RCB at Diageo India, was taken into custody at the Bengaluru airport, reported India Today.
According to reports, he was detained when he was trying to fly out to Mumbai.
Police, separately, arrested three other members of the DNA Entertainment Networks Pvt. Ltd, the organisers who hosted the victory celebrations in the city.
They were identified as Kiran, Sumanth and Sunil Mathew.
Police have filed a case on their own (suo moto) against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), the Karnataka cricket body, and DNA Entertainment over the stampede.
The case has been filed under five sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Section 105, which deals with culpable homicide.
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