'Justify His Suspension': Karnataka High Court To State In Challenge To CAT Order Revoking Cop's Suspension In Bengaluru Stampede Case

The Karnataka High Court on Thursday (July 03) asked the State government to justify its action of suspending police officers over the charge of dereliction of duty, following the stampede near Chinnaswamy stadium ahead of the RCB team's 2025 IPL victory celebration.

A division bench of Justice S G Pandit and Justice T M Nadaf was hearing the petition filed by the State government challenging the order of Central Administrative Tribunal which quashed the suspension of IPS officer Vikash Kumar Vikash.

The bench orally said to State, “You have to justify whether it was proper to keep the officers under suspension, or whether shifting of the officers to another post would have been sufficient.”

Advocate General Shashi Kiran Shetty replied saying “I will be able to show from the records the suspension order was justified.”

He also urged the court to stay the CAT's order. He said “Lordships are hearing the matter till then...He has gone in Uniform to take charge.”

At this stage, Senior Advocate Dhyan Chinnappa appearing for the IPS officer said, "I am not going to file contempt petition".

Following which the court orally told the respondent's counsel “Suspension order has gone but they have to pass order for reinstatement. When the matter is taken for final disposal do not precipitate.”

Chinnappa submitted to the court that he would not precipitate on the matter. He said “Yes milords we will not do anything.”

The court has now posted the matter for further hearing on July 9.

After the stampede the state government had suspended the IPS officer, along with four other officers of the Karnataka Police Department for alleged negligence and failure to manage the crowd.

Vikash is the only officer who approached the Tribunal challenging the suspension order. The CAT by its order dated July 1, quashed Vikash's suspension, stating that there was no convincing material showing negligence on the part of Police.

The tribunal in its order said “"Prima facie it appears that the RCB is responsible for the gathering of about three to five lakh people...It cannot expected from the Police that within a short time of about 12 hours the Police will make all arrangements required in the Police Act or in the other rules, etc. Police personnel are also human beings. They are neither “God”(Bhagwan) nor Magician and also not having the magic powers like “Alladdin ka Chirag” which was able to fulfil any wish only by rubbing a finger . To control the aforesaid type of gathering and for making the proper arrangements sufficient time should be given to the Police."

It thus had ordered the State to re-instate Vikash immediately, treating the period of suspension as on duty with full pay and allowances.

By the order dated 05.06.2025 other officers who were suspended included IPS officer B. Dayananda (Additional Director General & Commissioner of Police, Bengaluru City, Bengaluru), IPS officer Shekar H Tekkannavar (Deputy Commissioner of Police, Central Division, Bengaluru City), C. Balakrishna (Assistant Commissioner of Police, Cubbon Park, Bengaluru) and A.K. Girish (Police Inspector, Cubbon Park Police Station, Bengaluru) was also suspended.

Case Title: State of Karnataka & ANR AND Vikash Kumar Vikash

Case No: WP 19241/2025

Appearance: Advocate General Shashi Kiran Shetty for Petitioner.

Senior Advocate Dhyan Chinnappa for Adv. Dhanush Menon and Adv. Akshay Ramachandra Huddar for Respondent.