'Don't Want Another Vijay Mallya Case': Karnataka HC While Allowing Conditional Release Of DNA Officials' Passports In Bengaluru Stampede Case

The Karnataka High Court on Thursday (April 30) directed release of passports of three functionaries of event management firm M/s DNA Entertainment Networks in connection with the Bengaluru Stampede case, on the condition that they will not leave the country until May 12. 

For context, a stampede had occurred in Bengaluru near Chinnaswamy stadium on June 4, 2025, ahead of the IPL team Royal Challenger Bangalore's 2025 IPL victory celebration. Reportedly 11 people lost their lives in the stampede while over 30 people are stated to have suffered injuries. RCB won the 2025 IPL Final defeating Punjab Kings on June 3, winning the coveted trophy for the first time, since the inception of the IPL in 2008.

The court passed the interim order while hearing a plea for lifting the foreign travel ban on the functionaries of M/s DNA Entertainment Networks. The court however listed the petitioners' application seeking permission to travel abroad in June, on May 12. 

The single judge bench of Justice S R Krishna Kumar in his order dictated:

“Relist the matter on May 12 at 2.30 PM for hearing on IA in WP 16469/2025. Statement of objections to be filed by the next date of hearing. The concerned jurisdictional magistrate before whom the applicants…. have deposited their passports to be released, subject to the condition that the applicants shall not leave the country till May 12. On May 12, they (petitioners) would submit the family members' details, proposed itinerary and an undertaking for return”. 

During the hearing the court also orally said, “ ….I don't want to be a party in one more Vijay Mallya Case...There shouldn't be one more Vijay Mallya...That's the only apprehension..."

For now, the court has ordered a conditional release of the three passports, subject to none of the petitioners leaving the country until May 12. 

On June 12, 2025 the court had ordered interim release of RCB marketing head Nikhil Sosale from judicial custody in pleas challenging arrest. 

The court had also granted relief by ordering interim release of Sunil Mathew, Kiran Kumar S and Shamant N P Mavinakere of the event organising company M/s DNA Entertainment Networks Private Ltd., subject to surrender of their passports.

Today, when the matter was taken up, the counsel for the petitioners informed the court about the necessity of releasing the passports. The court then orally enquired about the possibility of them absconding and never coming back, drawing a parallel between the petitioners and Vijay Mallya who allegedly fled to the UK after a loan default to the tune of crores.

The State meanwhile argued that the petitioners were only seeking their physical presence in business meetings organised by DNA's own subordinate companies, and it could very well be attended through video conferencing.

Notably, on June 5, 2025 the high court had taken suo motu cognizance of the incident and had issued notice to the Karnataka Government to ascertain cause of the tragedy and how to prevent it in future. 

Case Title: Sunil Mathew & Ors v. State of Karnataka & Ors

Case No: WP 16469/2025 & Connected matters