Top Karnataka Police Officers Reinstated After Bengaluru Stampede Inquiry

Bengaluru

The Karnataka government has revoked the suspension orders of five police officers, including former Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda, following the conclusion of inquiries into the June 4 stampede at M Chinnaswamy Stadium. The tragic incident, which occurred during a felicitation event for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) after their historic IPL win, claimed 11 lives and left several injured.

The reinstated officers include Additional Commissioner of Police Vikash Kumar Vikash, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Shekar H Tekkannavar, Deputy Superintendent of Police C Balakrishna (then ACP, Cubbon Park), and Inspector Girish (then SHO, Cubbon Park Police Station). A government order confirmed their return to service, effective immediately.

The suspension was initially imposed on June 5, a day after the stampede, amid public outrage over police mismanagement and poor crowd control during the event organized by the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA).

The decision to revoke the suspensions follows the submission of separate inquiry reports by the Judicial Commission led by Justice John Michael D’Cunha and the Magisterial Committee under District Magistrate Jagadish G, delivered on July 10 and 11 respectively. The government acknowledged representations by the officers requesting revocation of their suspension in light of the completed inquiries.

Earlier, on July 1, the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) had ordered the reinstatement of IPS officer Vikash Kumar Vikash with full pay and benefits, directing the government to extend similar treatment to the other officers. However, the state government challenged this ruling in the Karnataka High Court on July 2, arguing that the tribunal had overreached by making conclusions without a departmental inquiry.

The cabinet has since approved the findings of the D’Cunha Commission, which recommended accountability for multiple entities involved in the event, including RCB, KSCA, DNA Entertainment, and the Bengaluru Police.