In a significant ruling, the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has cancelled the suspension of IPS officer Vikas Kumar, linked to the June 4 stampede outside Bangalore’s Chinnaswamy Stadium, and directed that he be reinstated with full service benefits. The verdict is expected to influence the status of other suspended officers connected to the incident.
Background: Stampede During RCB’s Victory Rally
The tragic stampede occurred during a celebratory procession following Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) win, leading to the deaths of 11 people, including a 14-year-old girl. The Karnataka government subsequently suspended five police officials, citing failure to implement adequate crowd control measures despite prior awareness of the event.
CAT Decision: Suspension Deemed Unlawful
On June 30, 2025, the CAT’s Bangalore Bench—comprising Justice BK Srivastava and Administrative Member Santosh Mehra—ruled the suspension of Vikas Kumar as illegal, emphasizing the officer’s limited time to respond to a last-minute rally announcement.
The tribunal noted:
“Policemen are humans, not gods or magicians. They do not possess Aladdin’s lamp to conjure security arrangements overnight.”
The decision underscores the short notice of 12 hours the police had to handle overwhelming crowds after RCB abruptly posted the rally invite on social media without prior coordination.
RCB Held Responsible
The tribunal report placed primary responsibility on RCB, stating that their failure to obtain official permission and communicate with authorities contributed directly to the chaos.
Senior advocate Dhyan Chinnappa, representing Kumar, remarked that the ruling not only exonerates his client but could pave the way for the reinstatement of other suspended officials, including Police Commissioner B. Dayanand and DCP Shekhar H. Teppannavar.
Suspended Officials in the Case
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 the ACP and Inspector faced action under the Karnataka Police Discipline Rules, 1965.
Implications for Policing & Governance
This verdict is being viewed as a landmark relief for police personnel, acknowledging the practical constraints in managing unexpected mass gatherings and reinforcing the need for inter-agency coordination.
