RCB proposes installation of AI-enabled cameras at Chinnaswamy for crowd management
Bengaluru (PTI): Desperate to ensure that IPL matches are not taken away from the M Chinnaswamy Stadium here, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru franchise has proposed the installation of 300-350 AI-enabled cameras at the venue and offered to bear the estimated cost of Rs 4.50 crore for this crowd management initiative.
RCB has made the proposal in an official communication to the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA).
"RCB has proposed the installation of 300 to 350 AI-enabled cameras at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. RCB has further committed to bearing the entire one-time cost of this initiative, estimated at approximately Rs 4.5 crore," the franchise said in a release.
"The advanced surveillance technology will empower the KSCA and law enforcement agencies to efficiently manage crowd movement, ensure disciplined queueing, monitor unauthorised access through real-time tracking of entries and exits, and significantly enhance overall fan safety," the franchise added.
All cricket was halted at the Chinnaswamy after 11 fans were killed in a stampede outside the venue during RCB's IPL trophy celebrations last year.
A state government-constituted task force is scheduled to submit its report on Saturday after monitoring the safety enhancement work currently in progress at the stadium premises.
The investigation had blamed the lack of crowd management measures for the deadly stampede on June 4 when lakhs thronged the venue to take part in RCB's celebrations.
It had held RCB responsible for the chaos, saying the franchise encouraged fans to come out in numbers despite not having necessary clearances from civic and law enforcement agencies.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, RCB announced compensation for the families of the victims and set up a foundation to connect with the fans.
For its latest proposal, the franchise said it has partnered with Staqu, a company, which it said has a proven track record in enhancing public safety through automation and data-driven intelligence. Staqu has listed Bihar Police and the Election Commission of India as its clients on its official website.
The success stories that the company has posted include a past collaboration with Uttar Pradesh Prison and Administrative Reform Services to centralise the video feeds from over 3000 CCTV cameras in more than 60 jails at a command centre for review of security breaches, violence, overcrowding and unauthorised access.
"Staqu's state-of-the-art facial recognition technology and intelligent monitoring of objects, crowd, perimeters and vehicles has assisted many State Police forces in their regular monitoring and investigations," said RCB.
"The integration of this advanced technology will elevate crowd management standards and reinforce a safe, secure and seamless matchday experience for all fans," the team asserted.
The AI-driven real-time camera system relies on video, audio and text data, enabling match-day security forces to detect unauthorised access and intrusion to take preventive measures well in advance.
If the venue does not receive essential permission from government agencies to hold IPL 2026 matches, the RCB management is thinking of taking its home matches to Raipur and Pune.
A venue is required to be handed over to the authorities at least a month before the start of the IPL, and this edition of the league is tentatively scheduled to start March 26.
Before that, the country would be hosting the T20 World Cup from February 7 and the Chinnaswamy has not been able to bag a single game for that either after failing to obtain necessary NOCs. The global event's final is scheduled for March 8.
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Jharkhand HC observes state police raid on ED office 'preplanned'
Ranchi (PTI): The Jharkhand High Court on Friday observed that the recent police raid on the ED office here prima facie appeared to be "preplanned".
Justice Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi, while hearing a writ petition filed by the ED, directed the central agency to make the Union home secretary a party to the case.
The court ordered the Union home secretary to depute CRPF/BSF or any other paramilitary force to provide security to the ED office and its officers.
Justice Dwivedi also directed Ranchi Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rakesh Ranjan to ensure proper security of the ED office.
The court observed that if there is any lapse in the security of the ED office and its officers, the SSP Ranchi will directly be held responsible for that.
The high court also stayed the police investigation against ED officers on the basis of an FIR registered at the Airport police station by a former state government employee, Santosh Kumar.
The ED on Thursday moved the high court seeking a CBI probe into the raid conducted by the state police on its premises, alleging "direct interference" in the functioning of the central agency.
Counsel appearing for the ED told the court that the agency was probing an alleged scam involving Santosh Kumar amounting to Rs 23 crore, of which Rs 9 crore had already been recovered.
Police personnel had visited the ED office on Thursday and collected CCTV footage after Kumar, a former drinking water and sanitation department employee, lodged a complaint on January 12 alleging that he was "thrashed" by ED officials during interrogation in connection with an alleged water supply scam.
The development came close on the heels of a confrontation between the West Bengal Police and ED officials after the central agency conducted searches at the office of political consultancy firm I-PAC and the residence of its director Pratik Jain, amid allegations of interference by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
The latest development has triggered a war of words between the opposition BJP and the ruling JMM over the authority of the police force.
Leader of the Opposition in Jharkhand Assembly, Babulal Marandi, alleged that under the guise of police action at the central probe agency's office, attempts could be made to tamper with and destroy crucial evidence pertaining to cases involving Chief Minister Hemant Soren.
BJP MP Nishikant Dubey also expressed apprehension that the state police action may result in arrest of honest officials.
Rejecting the allegations, JMM central spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya said police were only performing their duty and demanded that a case be registered against Marandi for "provoking a clash between the central and state forces".
The Congress, a constituent of the ruling coalition, alleged that the BJP was blowing the matter out of proportion, as police had to investigate at the place of occurrence.
"People are convinced that the office of the BJP and that of the ED are the same," senior Congress leader Rajesh Thakur said.
In January 2024, Soren had lodged a police complaint against senior ED personnel at the SC/ST police station here over searches conducted by the agency at his Delhi residence in a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam.
Soren claimed that the ED conducted the searches to "harass and malign him and his entire community", according to the FIR.
The CM was questioned by the ED as part of an investigation into a "huge racket of illegal change of land ownership by the mafia" in Jharkhand.
The ED later prayed for a CBI probe before the Jharkhand High Court into allegations levelled by Soren that a section of its officers violated provisions of the SC/ST Act.
"My family members and I have suffered and experienced immense mental, psychological and emotional harm because of the acts committed...," Soren stated in the FIR.
The matter is pending before court.
