Bengaluru Police FIR Filed over missing jewelry from 13-year-old stampede victim Divyanshi’s body at Bowring Hospital mortuary. Incident occurred after the tragic RCB victory stampede on June 4. Police have launched a probe under BNS Section 303(2) based on the mother’s complaint. Investigation underway.
In a disturbing development following the tragic stampede during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) victory celebrations, the Bengaluru Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) concerning the disappearance of gold jewelry from the body of a minor victim at a government hospital mortuary.
The complaint, filed by Ashwini Shivakumar, the mother of 13-year-old Divyanshi who died in the stampede, alleges that her daughter’s gold earrings and chain went missing while the body was in custody at the Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital mortuary. The incident has added another layer of pain to a tragedy that had already claimed 11 lives and injured more than 50 others.
According to the FIR, the missing items included a pair of gold earrings weighing approximately 6 grams and a gold chain weighing between 5 to 6 grams. The total value of the ornaments is estimated to be around ₹1 lakh. The FIR has been lodged under Section 303(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against an unidentified 25-year-old man, reportedly from Shivajinagar.
Divyanshi was among the hundreds who gathered near Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4 to celebrate RCB’s historic maiden IPL title win. The event, organized in a relatively small space with insufficient security arrangements, turned fatal as overcrowding led to a deadly stampede.
The grieving mother stated in her complaint that the jewelry was intact when the body was moved to the hospital. However, during the postmortem and subsequent handover of the body, the ornaments were missing. Initially, due to the shock and chaos, the family did not realize that the earrings and chain were not returned. It was only later that the missing items were noticed, prompting the complaint.
“The gold ornaments were stolen at the mortuary,” the FIR stated. “The mother has a deep emotional attachment to her daughter’s earrings and chain. She has requested that those responsible be identified and punished according to the law.”
The Commercial Street police have begun an investigation into the theft. So far, no arrests have been made, and police are analyzing CCTV footage and hospital staff logs to identify the suspect.
The June 4 stampede has already sparked massive public outrage and political backlash. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had earlier suspended five senior police officers, including Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda and DCP (Central) Ramesh Banoth, over serious lapses in planning and crowd management during the RCB event.
Calling it “one of the most unfortunate incidents” of his public career, CM Siddaramaiah vowed strict action against those found responsible. “We are deeply saddened. We did not expect such mismanagement, and we will ensure that justice is served,” he said during a press briefing.
Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has termed the deaths as “government-sponsored murders,” demanding the resignation of Karnataka’s Home Minister G. Parameshwara. BJP leaders claimed the Congress-led government failed to anticipate crowd risks despite multiple warnings, thereby putting lives at risk.
Taking note of the magnitude of the tragedy, the Karnataka High Court has taken suo motu cognizance and registered a Public Interest Litigation (PIL). The court has directed the state government to submit a detailed report on the sequence of events and the measures taken thereafter.
For Ashwini Shivakumar and her family, the loss of their daughter has been further compounded by the theft. “We can never get our daughter back, but at least return what belonged to her,” Ashwini reportedly told police officials. The family hopes the investigation will bring closure and justice for their child.
This incident raises serious questions about the sanctity and security of mortuary procedures in government hospitals. The hospital authorities have remained tight-lipped, and health department officials have yet to issue a formal statement regarding the alleged theft.
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As the investigation continues, the case has spotlighted both the human cost of administrative failures and the urgent need for improved protocols in handling the deceased, especially in times of mass casualty.
