Bengaluru Police Arrest Two After CCTV System Damaged At Chinnaswamy Stadium
Two arrested after damaging over 240 CCTV cameras at Chinnaswamy Stadium during IPL 2026 match.
A major security breach was reported at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru during an IPL 2026 match, after more than 240 CCTV cameras were rendered non-functional following deliberate damage to surveillance infrastructure. The incident took place on April 24, the same day as the high-profile match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Gujarat Titans (GT). The sabotage raised serious concerns about stadium security during one of the country’s most-watched sporting events.
According to police reports, the disruption occurred after Network Video Recorder (NVR) systems and fibre optic connections linked to the CCTV network were intentionally damaged. This resulted in a large-scale outage of surveillance coverage across key areas of the stadium. Authorities described the situation as a major security blind spot, especially troubling given the large crowd and high-profile nature of the IPL fixture.
Two individuals have been arrested in connection with the incident. They have been identified as 37-year-old Manjunath from Hiriyur in Chitradurga district and 19-year-old Abdul Kalam from Uttar Pradesh. Both were reportedly working for a sub-vendor associated with IVS Digital Solutions, a company responsible for providing digital and surveillance services at the stadium during the tournament.
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The complaint was filed by Aditya Bhat, an employee of Gurugram-based AI surveillance firm Staqu Technologies Pvt Ltd. He alleged that the accused entered a restricted CCTV control room without authorisation and damaged critical monitoring equipment. CCTV footage reportedly showed them accessing sensitive areas, including the control room and nearby connection points, strengthening suspicions of deliberate sabotage.
Preliminary investigations suggest the act may have been driven by financial grievances. The accused allegedly claimed they were acting out of frustration over unpaid dues amounting to around Rs 10 lakh. Police officials have registered a case against both individuals for intentional destruction of property, and further investigation is underway to verify claims and determine the exact motive behind the incident.
Meanwhile, RCB’s home fixtures at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium for the IPL 2026 season have already been completed. Due to prior logistical arrangements, the franchise’s remaining home matches have been shifted to Raipur. Authorities are now reviewing stadium security protocols to prevent similar breaches in future high-profile sporting events.
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