The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, upheld the order suspending IPS officer Vikash Kumar Vikash. He was Additional Commissioner of Police (West) when a stampede at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4 ended in the deaths of 11 individuals. Vikash had challenged his suspension, and the Tribunal has now directed the state to reinstate him to his original post.
The CAT, in its judgement, highlighted procedural omissions pertaining to the stadium event. It pointed out that the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) had filed a letter to the Inspector of Cubbon Park Police Station on June 3, one day prior to the IPL finals. The Tribunal noted that this was a blatant breach of the Licensing and Controlling of Assemblies and Public Procession (Bengaluru City) Order, 2009, which provides that permission for events has to be taken at least seven days in advance with the Additional Commissioner of Police in charge of law and order.
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The CAT ruled that the protocols so set were not complied with. It further pointed out that Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) had persistently announced a victory parade on its social media channels during June 4, which also added to the mayhem leading to the stampede.
"Prima facie it appears that the RCB is responsible for the gathering of about three to five lakh people. The RCB did not take the appropriate permission or consent from the Police. Suddenly, they posted on social media platforms and as a result of aforesaid information the public were gathered," noted the Tribunal.
"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. Police personnel are also human beings...To control the aforesaid type of gathering and for making the proper arrangements sufficient time should be given to the Police."
"But neither the information was given to the Police for making the arrangements nor the permission was applied or granted by the Police. The KSCA submitted a letter which also did not contain any request for granting the permission or for making the arrangements. The letter shows only the information regarding the intention. Therefore, it was not expected from the Police that upon the basis of letter submitted before the Station In-charge of one Police Station, the Police will make all arrangements all of a sudden."