Bengaluru: In a dramatic turn in the ongoing legal case surrounding the June 4 stampede incident outside M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, senior IPS officer Vikash Kumar Vikash told the Karnataka High Court that the public announcement calling fans to the stadium was made from the steps of Vidhana Soudha, and not by police without authority, as previously alleged. His counsel contended that senior police officers, including Mr. Vikash, were made scapegoats in the aftermath of the tragic event that left 11 dead and many injured.
Read also: Karnataka Defends IPS Officer’s Suspension Over RCB Stampede, Slams Police for ‘Serving Franchise’
Public Call Came from Vidhana Soudha, Not Stadium: Counsel
During the hearing before a division bench comprising Justice S.G. Pandit and Justice T.M. Nadaf, it was revealed that a public announcement inviting fans to the stadium for celebrations was made after the state’s official felicitation ceremony for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) had concluded. The announcement, reportedly made from the steps of the Vidhana Soudha, has become central to Mr. Vikash Kumar’s defense.
Senior Advocate Dhyan Chinnappa, representing Mr. Vikash Kumar, argued that the officer’s suspension was not based on substantial evidence or procedural compliance, and was merely a measure by the government to assign blame quickly.
Govt Accused Police of Acting Without Authorization
Earlier, the State Government had submitted that some officers acted “like servants of RCB,” and that they had embarrassed the state due to inadequate security arrangements, which allegedly led to the stampede outside the stadium.
Senior Advocate P.S. Rajgopal, appearing for the State, said that police failed to use their powers under Section 35 of the Karnataka Police Act, which allows officers to prohibit acts likely to cause disorder. He claimed that Mr. Vikash Kumar was aware of the request by the Karnataka State Cricket Association for a celebration and did not act responsibly.
Suspension Lacked Due Process, Says Defense
However, Mr. Chinnappa argued that an IPS officer cannot be suspended merely on grounds of dereliction of duty without following proper administrative procedure. He also pointed out that the State Government’s status report to the High Court admits that suspension was used as a tool to demonstrate accountability within the police hierarchy rather than a consequence of actual misconduct.
The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) had earlier quashed the suspension order on July 1, a decision now being challenged by the state in the Karnataka High Court.
Next Hearing Scheduled
The division bench will continue hearing the matter on Friday, with arguments from both sides expected to focus further on the legality of the suspension and the responsibility matrix for crowd management failures during high-profile public events.
