Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru

Bengaluru, July 28: In a significant development following the tragic stampede outside Chinnaswamy Stadium, the Karnataka government has revoked the suspension of four senior police officers, including former Bengaluru citu police commissioner B Dayananda, who were earlier held responsible for lapses in crowd management during the RCB victory celebration.

The decision was announced on Monday, over a month after the incident that claimed 11 lives and injured 56 others during a fan gathering on June 4, marking the end of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL campaign. The stampede led to widespread outrage and questions over the city police’s preparedness for crowd control.

According to the official government order, the suspensions were lifted following the completion of investigations by both a judicial commission and a magisterial committee, who submitted their reports to the state government. The order also noted that the officers had filed petitions requesting revocation of their suspension.

The officers now reinstated are:

• B Dayananda – then Bengaluru Police Commissioner

• Shekhar H Tekannavar – Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central Division)

• C Balakrishna – Assistant Commissioner of Police

• A K Girish – Inspector

However, the suspension of additional director general of police (ADGP) Vikash Kumar Vikash remains in force. Despite the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), Bengaluru Bench, revoking his suspension on July 1, the state government has challenged the ruling in the Karnataka High Court, where proceedings are still underway. As a result, his suspension is yet to be formally lifted.

The stampede occurred as thousands of fans gathered outside the stadium for a public event celebrating RCB’s IPL performance. The lack of effective crowd management and coordination between departments allegedly led to the deadly chaos, with many victims caught in a rush for free passes and access.

In the immediate aftermath, the government had suspended five senior officers citing gross dereliction of duty, promising a thorough probe and accountability. Monday’s revocation marks a shift in that stance, with the state signalling that the officers had been exonerated through official inquiries.

A senior source within the Home Department confirmed, “With both the judicial and magisterial reports submitted, and the officers having appealed, the government found it appropriate to revoke the suspension orders.”

However, legal scrutiny around the ADGP’s case continues to draw attention. The High Court’s verdict on the government’s appeal against the CAT ruling will likely set a precedent for handling administrative suspensions following high-profile incidents.

Meanwhile, opposition leaders and civil society activists have criticised what they describe as a lack of transparency in the investigation reports and have called for their public release. “Eleven people died. Simply reinstating officers without releasing the findings raises more questions than answers,” said a local activist group in a statement.

As Bengaluru continues to host major public events, the tragedy has become a wake-up call for authorities on the urgent need for reform in public safety protocols, inter-agency coordination, and event crowd control measures.

With four officers now reinstated and one still under judicial review, the focus now turns to whether lessons have truly been learned, and what reforms—if any—will follow to prevent such disasters in future.