NEW DELHI: A major security incident marred an IPL 2026 game at M Chinnaswamy Stadium on April 24, with CCTV equipment reportedly damaged on match day during the contest between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans. Despite the disruption, RCB pulled off a successful chase, reaching their target of 206 with 5 balls to spare.
Key takeaways
- On April 24, CCTV infrastructure at M Chinnaswamy Stadium was reported damaged during the RCB vs Gujarat Titans IPL 2026 match.
- More than 240 cameras were found not working, affecting surveillance coverage in key security zones.
- RCB, the defending champions, chased Gujarat Titans’ 205/3 in 18.5 overs.
- Police booked two suspects: Manjunath (37) from Hiriyur, Chitradurga, and Abdul Kalam (19) from Uttar Pradesh.
- A police complaint was filed by Aditya Bhat, an employee of Staqu Technologies Pvt Ltd, citing unauthorised entry and alleged equipment damage.
Security breach reported at the stadium
Reports said the CCTV surveillance system at the venue was compromised on the day of the IPL 2026 encounter between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans, played on April 24. Investigators found that over 240 cameras were rendered non-functional, limiting monitoring across important areas meant for stadium security on match day.
In response to the situation, Cubbon Park police moved quickly and registered cases against two individuals. The booked men were Manjunath, aged 37 and identified as a resident of Hiriyur in Chitradurga, and Abdul Kalam, aged 19, from Uttar Pradesh.
Police indicated that the incident occurred during the match and that both accused were said to be working under a sub-vendor connected to IVS Digital Solutions, involved in providing digital services for match days.
Complaint details and alleged access to restricted areas
The report stated that the complaint was lodged by Aditya Bhat, an employee of Staqu Technologies Pvt Ltd, a Gurugram-based company that supplies AI-driven surveillance solutions for match days. Bhat alleged that Manjunath and Abdul entered the CCTV control room without having valid passes.
He further claimed that the duo caused damage to Network Video Recorder (NVR) systems and also tampered with related fibre connections. The account also suggested that CCTV visuals showed the two accessing restricted portions of the facility.
Because of the technical disruption, officials were reportedly unable to provide live surveillance feeds to police staff deployed around the stadium for security duties.
What the investigation reportedly found
During the course of the investigation, the accused reportedly told police they had not received dues amounting to Rs 10 lakh. The match itself, however, remained the sporting focus despite the security setback, as RCB successfully chased Gujarat Titans’ 205/3 in 18.5 overs.
