The Karnataka government has set up a one-member commission headed by retired Karnataka High Court Justice John Michael Cunha to probe the stampede that took place near Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on June 4 which led to the death of 11 people..Chief Minister Siddaramaiah informed the press about the decision taken at the State cabinet meeting held on Thursday.A graduate of SDM Law College, Justice John Michael D’Cunha started his law practice in 1985, before moving to Bengaluru to practice in the Karnataka High Court. He started his career at the Bench in 2002, and worked in courts in the districts of Bellary, Dharwad, Hubli and Bangalore. He later joined the judiciary and came to prominence in 2014 when as the special judge trying cases against lawmakers, he convicted then Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa in a disproportionate assets case.He was appointed as an additional judge of the High Court in November 2016 and was made a permanent judge in November 2018.He demitted office in 2021. .11 people died and 56 people were left injured after a stampede took place outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4, where a large crowd had gathered to greet the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) cricket team after they won the Indian Premier League (IPL).Celebrations had been planned in Bengaluru to mark RCB's first victory in 18 years, and the team was slated to arrive at the stadium to meet fans.It is reported that fees were initially charged for entry into the stadium. However, after it was allegedly announced late in the day that free entry would be permitted, large crowds thronged the stadium's gates, leading to a stampede and the tragic loss of lives.The Karnataka High Court also initiated a suo motu case on Thursday over the incident and sought a status report on the matter from the State. That case will be heard next on June 10, Tuesday.
