Tension gripped the IPL 2026 season when a serious security breach was discovered at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru just before a major match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans on April 24. What should have been a routine high-profile game turned into a major concern after surveillance systems inside the stadium were reportedly sabotaged.
According to reports, more than 240 CCTV cameras stopped working after critical systems were damaged. The issue was traced back to Network Video Recorder (NVR) units and fibre optic connections, which were tampered with, creating a significant gap in the stadium’s security coverage.
Two individuals were arrested in connection with the incident. They were identified as Manjunath, 37, from Chitradurga, and Abdul Kalam, 19, from Uttar Pradesh. Both were working for a subcontractor under IVS Digital Solutions, the company responsible for handling surveillance operations at the venue. Based on a complaint filed by an employee of Staqu Technologies Pvt Ltd, the accused managed to enter the CCTV control room without authorisation by using a deactivated access card. Once inside, they allegedly damaged key equipment.
Investigations revealed that several important areas of the stadium including entry gates, concourses and corporate stands were left without live monitoring for some time. CCTV footage reportedly showed the suspects moving through restricted zones and interfering with sensitive systems. Early findings suggest the act may have been linked to a payment dispute, as the accused were reportedly upset over unpaid dues of around Rs 10 lakh.
Despite the seriousness of the situation, authorities responded quickly. Backup systems were activated and surveillance was restored in time to ensure the match went ahead without disruption. A legal case has been registered and further investigation is underway to understand the full extent of the damage and responsibility.
The incident has once again raised questions about security arrangements at one of the busiest IPL venues, especially after previous concerns like ticket black-marketing and past crowd-related issues at the stadium.
On the field, however, Royal Challengers Bengaluru delivered a strong performance, defeating Gujarat Titans. With this win, RCB ended their home run in Bengaluru on a high, securing four victories in five matches. The team will now play their remaining home games in Raipur due to scheduling commitments.
