In a significant security breach at an IPL 2026 match, Bengaluru Police apprehended two individuals for allegedly sabotaging surveillance equipment at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru versus Gujarat Titans game on April 24. Over 240 CCTV cameras at the venue were disabled after critical systems like Network Video Recorders (NVRs) and fiber-optic connections were intentionally damaged, as per the FIR. This incident caused a temporary blackout in surveillance across crucial areas such as entry gates and concourses.
Authorities swiftly implemented backup security measures to ensure the match proceeded without interruptions. A case has been filed at the Cubbon Park police station, and investigations are currently ongoing to address the deliberate disruption. The accused, identified as 37-year-old Manjunath E from Hiriyur in Chitradurga and 19-year-old Abdul Kalam from Uttar Pradesh, were reportedly subcontractors associated with IVS Digital Solutions, the company responsible for the stadium’s digital surveillance. They allegedly gained unauthorized access to restricted areas using a deactivated access card and carried out the sabotage in the CCTV control room.
The complaint was lodged by Aditya Bhat, an employee of Staqu Technologies Pvt. Ltd., a Gurugram-based AI surveillance firm linked to the stadium’s monitoring systems. Evidence presented includes CCTV footage showing the suspects entering sensitive locations like server rooms and connection hubs near the parking lot. The accused individuals, during interrogation, revealed that their actions were motivated by frustration over unpaid dues amounting to around Rs 10 lakh. Authorities are investigating this claim while examining potential lapses in contractor oversight and access control mechanisms.
The incident led to a change in the IPL 2026 schedule for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, with the team relocating its remaining home matches from Bengaluru to Raipur due to logistical arrangements already in place.
