Karnataka High Court Rejects DNA Entertainment's Plea To Quash Inquiry Commission's Report On Bengaluru Stampede

The Karnataka High Court on Friday dismissed the plea filed by Event management firm M/s DNA Entertainment Network Private Limited seeking quashing of a judicial inquiry report regarding Bengaluru Stampede which occurred in May.

A division bench of Justice D K Singh and Justice Tara Vitasta Ganju passed the order. A detailed copy of the order is yet to be made available.

The Government of Karnataka, had on June 5, issued a Government Order, appointing a Commission of Inquiry headed by Retired justice John Michael Cunha and further directed that the Inquiry should be completed within a period of one month.

DNA claimed that the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952 clearly contemplates that there is a right of cross-examination provided and in the circumstances, even when it had sought for an opportunity to cross-examine the witnesses who may have spoken contrary to its interest, that not having been done, the entire Inquiry would be contrary to the principles of natural justice and also contrary to the 1952 Act.

Further, it stated that DNA Entertainment was not given a copy of the depositions of its witnesses and the other witnesses, as well as the documents marked in spite of seeking a copy of the same.

The company claimed that a copy was needed to cross-examine the witnesses, point out the incorrectly recorded answers as well as address a personal hearing on the matter and hence, the impugned Report will have to be quashed.

It also claimed that justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done. However, the Commission seemed to have proceeded in a biased manner as if it were a fault-finding commission rather than a fact-finding commission. Thus, the impugned Report is vitiated even for that reason.

Senior Advocate B K Sampath appearing for the company had referred to the newspaper/television channel reports and said, “Till now we have not received the report. The Media keeps carrying the portion of the report everyday...Media reports said that the Commission report has recommended action against the organisers of the event. We are named and shamed in the media and also on social media, we are a reputed company...Every second my reputation is being tarnished”.

Advocate General Shashi Kiran Shetty had refuted the claim. He had also submitted that if at all any action is to be initiated based on the report the petitioners would be issued a prior notice.

Case Title: M/s DNA Entertainment Networks Private Limited AND State of Karnataka

Case No: WP 22323/2025

Citation No: 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 392

Appearance: Senior Advocate B K Sampath for Petitioner.

Advocate General K. Shashi Kiran Shetty a/w. Anishka Vaishnav Adv. & Anukanksha Kalkeri (HCGP).

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