Bangalore: The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has provided significant relief to suspended IPS officer Vikas Kumar, cancelling his suspension related to the tragic stampede outside Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4, 2025. The tribunal has ordered that he be reinstated with all service benefits, potentially opening the door for the reinstatement of other suspended officers involved in the case.
Background: The Deadly Stampede at Chinnaswamy Stadium
On June 4, a stampede occurred during a victory rally celebrating the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) cricket team’s win outside Bangalore’s iconic Chinnaswamy Stadium. The rush of a massive crowd resulted in the death of 11 people, including a 14-year-old girl.
Following the tragedy, the Karnataka government suspended five police officers, including IPS officer Vikas Kumar, Bengaluru Police Commissioner B. Dayanand, and DCP Shekhar H. Teppannavar. The suspension was premised on allegations of inadequate police arrangements despite prior knowledge of the event.
CAT Verdict: Suspension Declared Illegal
The Bangalore Bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal, comprising Justice BK Srivastava and Administrative Member Santosh Mehra, pronounced the verdict on June 30, 2025. The tribunal declared the suspension of IPS officer Vikas Kumar illegal and cancelled it. The order also mandates that Kumar receive all service benefits due to him under the service rules.
Senior advocate Dhyan Chinnappa, representing Vikas Kumar, stated that this verdict not only clears Kumar but could also pave the way for reinstatement of Police Commissioner B Dayanand and DCP Shekhar H. Teppannavar.
Read More From: Bengaluru Stadium Stampede: Centre Approves Suspension of 3 Senior IPS Officers
Tribunal Highlights RCB’s Role and Police Limitations
The tribunal’s report held Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) responsible for the stampede incident. It revealed that RCB did not seek prior permission from the police before suddenly posting an invitation for the victory procession on social media, which caused an unexpected surge of crowds.
“Policemen are also humans, neither God nor magician. They do not have Aladdin’s lamp to make all security arrangements instantly,” the tribunal remarked, emphasizing that the police had insufficient time — merely 12 hours — to prepare for crowd control after the last-minute social media invitation.
This explanation was central to the tribunal’s decision to lift the suspension on Vikas Kumar, acknowledging the impossibility of arranging complete security on such short notice.
Government Allegations and Police Response
The Karnataka government had earlier accused the police of failing to anticipate the large crowd despite having prior information. The police were criticized for not issuing public notices or deploying additional forces for crowd management, and for not seeking guidance from senior officials.
However, the tribunal’s findings dispute the government’s position to an extent by highlighting the uncoordinated event announcement by RCB as a key factor that overwhelmed police preparedness.
Suspension of Officers and Next Steps
The government suspended five officers post-incident:
- Bengaluru Police Commissioner B. Dayanand
- Additional Commissioner Vikas Kumar
- DCP Shekhar H. Teppannavar
- ACP C Balakrishna
- Inspector A.K. Girish
The IPS officers were suspended under the Discipline and Appeal Rules 1969, while action against ACP and Inspector was taken under the Karnataka Police Discipline Rules 1965.
With CAT cancelling Vikas Kumar’s suspension, there is growing speculation that the suspensions of other senior officers might also be reconsidered.
What This Means for Police Officials
The tribunal’s order is being seen as a landmark decision providing much-needed relief to police officers caught in the fallout of the tragedy. It highlights the challenges faced by law enforcement in managing spontaneous large gatherings and stresses the importance of coordinated planning.
Also Read: RCB Victory Stampede: Suspended IPS Dayananda Deposes, Inquiry Report Expected Soon
