Bengaluru's police had issued a clear warning ahead of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) IPL victory celebration at the Vidhana Soudha, raising serious concerns about security preparedness and infrastructure. A letter written by Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) MN Karibasavana Gowda on June 4 — a day after RCB’s historic first IPL win — outlined multiple red flags regarding the proposed felicitation event.

The letter accessed by NDTV underlines that the police foresaw the potential for chaos and had advised caution well in advance.

The letter, addressed to the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms, cautioned that hosting such a high-profile event at the Vidhana Soudha’s grand steps could attract "lakhs of fans", creating significant security challenges due to insufficient manpower in the legislature's dedicated security wing. The DCP emphasised that the lack of time for coordination and deployment made full-scale preparedness unfeasible.

He further pointed out the inadequacy of CCTV surveillance around the Vidhana Soudha — a heritage structure and critical government facility — which added to the security risk. The letter also advised the state government to restrict public access entirely for the day, bar family members of Secretariat staff from attending, and declare an afternoon holiday to prevent overcrowding.

Among other recommendations were the installation of an Anti-Drone System, inspection of stage structures by the Public Works Department (PWD) for stability, and electrical safety certification. The DCP called for anti-sabotage checks to be conducted at least two hours before the event and urged that all equipment and infrastructure meet safety norms.

Despite these warnings, the event went ahead, ultimately leading to a tragic stampede at the Chinnaswamy Stadium that killed 11 people. In the aftermath, an FIR was filed against RCB, event organiser DNA Entertainment, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) under serious charges, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Several top officials have since been suspended, and legal proceedings are ongoing.(With inputs from Agencies)