IPS officer's suspension: Counsel flags contradictions in Karnataka government stand on Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede

Time of India

19-07-2025

Bengaluru: The suspension of IPS officer Vikash Kumar Vikash following the June 4 stampede outside Chinnaswamy Stadium came under fresh scrutiny Friday, with his counsel arguingthe state govt's position in court contradicts its own actions.
Senior advocate Dhyan Chinnappa, appearing for Vikash, told a division bench that while the govt has maintained it implemented all necessary security measures, the suspension of police officers appears to be a "knee-jerk reaction." He questioned the govt's claim that police officials acted as subordinates of franchisees. "It is difficult to accept such a statement from the state govt," Chinnappa submitted.
The counsel also cited the govt's reference to an intelligence report received by the chief minister, but pointed out that the officer who prepared the report was transferred, diminishing the document's relevance in subsequent records.
Chinnappa added the chief minister approved the suspension file without mentioning the intelligence input.
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"Accountability cannot be arbitrarily assigned. Govt regulations require that suspension decisions must be backed by evidence and satisfy criteria of necessity or desirability. In this case, the order only refers to a magisterial inquiry, not an officer-specific investigation or departmental proceedings," he argued.
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He also noted that RCB's COO had contacted the police commissioner before the event. Though there was no written response, discussions between DCPs took place regarding security arrangements from airport to the stadium.
Chinnappa submitted that a status report indicated complete implementation of security measures, and pointed out that the police had been managing crowd celebrations since the previous night.
On the dereliction of duty allegations, Chinnappa said the action against Vikash seemed reactive rather than evidence-based. He argued that the case reflected a distinction between an officer's absence and incidents happening despite their presence. Meanwhile, a division bench led by Justice SG Pandit adjourned the proceedings to Monday. The matter relates to the July 1 order of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), which nullified Vikash Kumar Vikash's suspension and suggested similar relief for four other suspended police officers.
The CAT had also observed that social media posts by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) potentially contributed to the crowd surge outside Chinnaswamy Stadium, where a stampede left 11 people dead. The state govt and RCB are contesting the tribunal's order.