Bengaluru (02.07.2025): The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) on July 1, 2025 quashed the suspension order of Vikash Kumar Vikash (IPS: 2004: KT) in Bengaluru stampede observing that it is Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) which is "prima facie responsible" for the incident outside Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4. The incident led to the death of 11 people. The IPS officer filed a case in CAT against his suspension.
Around 2.5 lakh people thronged the MG Road and Cubbon Road areas near the stadium after RCB announced a victory parade from the Vidhana Soudha and a fan engagement programme at the stadium to celebrate the team's maiden IPL triumph.
"…therefore, 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," the CAT noted.
The court observed that RCB posted on social media platforms and as a result of aforesaid information the public gathered. The RCB had posted in its social media handles about the parade and the fan engagement on the morning of June 4, and the Tribunal noted that the police department did not have sufficient time in its hands to manage such a large gathering at such short notice.
Due to shortage of time on 04.06.2026, the Police were unable to take appropriate measures to manage crowd. Not enough time was given to the Police and suddenly, the RCB created the aforesaid type of nuisance without any prior permission.
“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," the CAT observed.
