Permission Denied For Cricket Match At Chinnaswamy Stadium On December 24

Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh announced on Tuesday that permission has been denied for the Vijay Hazare Trophy match at Chinnaswamy Stadium scheduled for December 24.

The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) had requested that the match be held without spectators.

State Home Minister G Parameshwara formed a committee to review the permissions for holding cricket matches at the stadium. The committee visited the stadium on Monday.

Matches at Chinnaswamy Stadium were halted following a stampede during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) IPL victory celebration on June 4, which resulted in 11 fatalities.

The match will now be played at the BCCI Centre of Excellence near Kempegowda International Airport, as per official

sources.

“There may be some confusion regarding the permission to hold a cricket match at Chinnaswamy Stadium. As you know, our committee visited yesterday. Based on their recommendation, permission has been denied. Therefore, there will be no match tomorrow,” Singh informed reporters.

The committee, acting on instructions from the Home Department, has provided a detailed report, leading to the denial of permission for the match. Singh did not disclose the report’s details, citing his membership in the committee.

The committee, led by the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) commissioner, included the police commissioner and officials from the PWD, Fire and Health departments, and Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM).

GBA Commissioner Maheshwar Rao stated that the committee would submit a detailed report to the government, which will then decide on its publication. “We will submit the report to the government, and they will make the decision. I am not in a position to comment on the report’s details at this time. We conducted a thorough verification of the stadium facilities,” he said.

On Monday, the Home Minister held a meeting with KSCA officials, senior officers, and police at the Vidhana Soudha to discuss holding cricket matches at the stadium. He requested the panel to visit the stadium and provide feedback.

Noting that the Bengaluru City Police Commissioner had already informed the KSCA about following the 17-point recommendations, Parameshwara said the committee would review compliance and inform the government.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stated on Tuesday that permissions for holding matches at the stadium would depend on KSCA adhering to the safety and security requirements recommended in the Justice John Michael Cunha Commission’s report. “The recommendations made in the report should be complied with for permission to be granted,” he said.

Regarding the KSCA’s request to hold the Vijay Hazare Trophy match without spectators and the subsequent denial, the CM said, “I am not aware of it. Speak to Parameshwara. The Home Minister has formed a committee to review it.”

The Justice Cunha Commission, which investigated the June 4 stampede, concluded that the stadium’s design and structure were unsuitable and unsafe for mass gatherings. The Commission recommended adequate gates for entry and exit, purpose-built queuing and circulation zones separate from public roads, emergency evacuation plans meeting international safety standards, and sufficient parking.

Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who oversees Bengaluru development, commented from New Delhi that he was unaware of the permission denial. He expressed support for holding cricket matches in Bengaluru and ensuring their safety. “There is no chance of future incidents. Matches should be allowed with necessary conditions. I will discuss this with the Home Minister. The CM is not against matches but wants security issues addressed,” he said.

(With PTI Inputs)