Bengaluru stadium stampede fallout: Bill moots 3-year jail, Rs 5 lakh fine for private event planners | Bengaluru News
BENGALURU: Two weeks after a stampede at KSCA stadium in Bengaluru claimed the lives of 11 people, Karnataka govt has drafted a crowd-management bill with stringent punishment and fastening the responsibility on event organisers if any of the laws are breached.The Karnataka Crowd Control (managing crowd at events and venues of mass gathering) Bill, 2025, accessed by TOI, recommends up to three years in jail and a Rs 5-lakh fine if commercial event planners violate the laws laid down by the govt. All others (non-commercial event planners) who violate the law will attract three years in jail or a Rs 5,000 fine or both.The bill gives powers to local police and district magistrates (deputy commissioners) to curb or cancel an event or change the venue in case of emergencies or if there is an apprehension of a discord or breach of peace.The orders issued by the district DCs against any such event shall be in force for 30 days or for a period specified by the authorities. In exceptional cases, it could extend up to 60 days from the date of the first order.The bill, whose details will be published by the state govt, says event organisers must apply to the jurisdictional police station and the police may change the venue in case of an emergency.In case of a stampede, the government will hold the event planners and all those who aid, abet or assist responsible and slap them with a three-year punishment and fine. Further, the bill asks the event planners to pay compensation to victims in the event of a tragedy.If the event planners are not paying compensation, then the govt may collect the amount as arrears from land revenue. “The event planner’s property could (also) be auctioned by the govt,” reads the bill.