'Servants Of RCB': Karnataka Govt Defends Suspension Of Senior IPS Officer In Bengaluru Stampede Case
Bengaluru: The Karnataka Government on Thursday defended its suspension of IPS officer Vikash Kumar Vikash over the stampede that took place outside Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on June 4. The Siddaramaiah-led government told the Karnataka High Court that senior police officers acted like "servants of RCB", reported Live Law.
Senior Counsel PS Rajagopal, representing the state government in the court, submitted that the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) had given an application to senior police officials about the proposed route of their victory before the start of the IPL final 2025.
“Even before the toss of the final match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Punjab Kings, an application was given to the concerned police officers by RCB about their plans of celebrating victory, in case they win the match. Police officers acted as servants of the RCB,” the counsel said, as reported by the media house.
Rajagopal further alleged that the officer started making arrangements without informing higher authorities, and they did not even question who had given permission to the IPL franchise.
The state government further argued that it was impossible to conduct the RCB’s victory parade within a notice of just 12 hours, as it was the IPL franchise’s first title victory and it was expected to attract massive crowds.
Earlier in the day, the Karnataka government, in its report, blamed the RCB for the stampede at Chinnaswamy Stadium. At least 11 people lost their lives and over 50 were injured in the stampede.
According to the report, at about 6.30 pm, just hours before the IPL final between RCB and Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Ahmedabad, the KSCA, on behalf of DNA Networks Pvt Ltd, submitted a letter of intimation to the Cubbon Park police station.
"Should RCB emerge victorious in the tournament, the management of RCB/DNA Entertainment Networks Private Limited intends to plan potential victory parades around the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, culminating in victory celebrations at the stadium. This was in the nature of an intimation, not a requisition for permission as required under the law," the report said, as reported by PTI.
“Recognising the need for accountability within the law enforcement hierarchy, the government took action against police officials on June 5, 2025. A Government Order suspended five police officers, including three IPS officers of significant rank: the Commissioner of Police, the Inspector General and Additional Commissioner of Police, and the Deputy Commissioner of Police, alongside the Assistant Commissioner of Police for Cubbon Park and the Police Inspector of Cubbon Park," the report stated.
On June 3, the RCB defeated the Punjab Kings (PBKS) by six runs to clinch its maiden IPL trophy.
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