'Does This Require Suspension?': HC On Karnataka Govt's Action Against Cop Over Bengaluru Stampede

Last Updated:July 03, 2025, 14:13 IST

The Karnataka High Court questioned the need to suspend senior IPS officer Vikash Kumar Vikash after a fatal Bengaluru stampede, suggesting a transfer might have sufficed.

The next hearing in the matter will take place on July 9. (PTI File Photo)

The Karnataka High Court on Thursday asked the state government if the suspension of senior IPS officer Vikash Kumar Vikash, who faced the action in the wake of a fatal stampede in Bengaluru last month, was necessary.

The High Court’s observation came while it was hearing the Siddaramaiah government’s plea challenging the quashing of Vikash’s suspension order by the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT).

Advocate General (AG) Shashi Kiran Shetty, appearing for the state government, defended the suspension order, saying it was a “clear case of dereliction of duty", making it a “fit case" for suspension.

The next hearing in the matter will take place on July 9.

IPS officer Vikash had challenged the government’s June 5 suspension order before the Tribunal, which also included the names of then Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda and DCP Shekar H Tekkannavar.

The CAT on Tuesday quashed the Karnataka government’s suspension order against Vikash, who faced the action in the wake of a fatal stampede here last month.

The CAT also observed that the police are neither “God" nor “Magician" to manage massive crowds at short notice, while holding Royal Challengers Bengaluru “prima facie responsible" for the stampede outside Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4.

Eleven people lost their lives after nearly 2.5 lakh fans thronged the MG Road and Cubbon Road areas near the stadium after RCB announced a victory parade and a fan engagement programme to celebrate the team’s maiden IPL triumph.

The RCB had posted in its social media handles about the parade and the fan engagement on the morning of June 4, and the Tribunal noted that the police department did not have sufficient time in its hands to manage such a large gathering at such short notice.

“Because of shortage of time on 04.06.2026, the police was unable to do the appropriate arrangements. Sufficient time was not given to the police. Suddenly, the RCB created the aforesaid type of nuisance without any prior permission," the CAT noted.

The Tribunal then held that the Royal Challengers are “prima facie" responsible for the tragic events unfolded later in the evening near the stadium.

“Therefore, prima facie it appears that the RCB is responsible for the gathering of about three to five lakh people. The RCB did not take the appropriate permission or consent from the police," the CAT noted.

“Suddenly, they posted on social media platforms and as a result of aforesaid information the public were gathered," added the CAT.

(with inputs from PTI)

Saurabh Verma

Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19

Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19

Location :

First Published:

News india 'Does This Require Suspension?': HC On Karnataka Govt's Action Against Cop Over Bengaluru Stampede