Karnataka govt acquits three IPS officers in Chinnaswamy stampede case, closes ministry inquiry
On the fateful day, crowds and stampedes during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s maiden Indian Premier League title celebrations led to the death of 11 people and injuries to 56 others. | Photo credit: File Photo
The Karnataka government concluded a departmental inquiry against three senior IPS officers, including the then Bengaluru City Police Commissioner B. Dayananda, who faced disciplinary proceedings over the 4 June 2025 Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede and cleared them of all charges under the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules.
On the fateful day, crowds and stampedes during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s maiden Indian Premier League title celebrations led to the death of 11 people and injuries to 56 others. Disciplinary proceedings were initiated against the police officers following this incident.
The orders issued by the Ministry of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (Services-IV) on Tuesday are against Mr. Dayananda; Vikash Kumar Vikash, then Inspector General of Police and Additional Commissioner of Police (West); and Shekhar H. Tekkannavar, then Deputy Commissioner of Police, Central Division.
Suspended in 2025
The three officers were suspended on June 5, 2025, the day after the stampede, pending disciplinary proceedings. Their suspensions were revoked in July 2025 while the department’s investigation continued under Rule 8 of the AIS (Disciplinary and Appeal) Rules.
The government said each of the officers submitted a detailed statement of defense on September 8, 2025, denying the charges and asking for acquittal. After reviewing their answers and considering the opinion of the administrative department, the competent authority decided to stop the disciplinary proceedings.
Accordingly, the government ordered the closure of the ministerial investigations and cleared all three officers of the charges brought against them.
However, in the case of Shekhar H. Tekkannavar, the government issued a warning while concluding the proceedings and directed him to act responsibly and ensure that similar incidents do not recur in future. No such warning was issued in the orders relating to B. Dayananda and Vikash Kumar Vikash.
The orders were issued by Sanjay BS, Under Secretary of State, Ministry of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (Services-IV), at the behest and on behalf of the Governor of Karnataka.
Published – 14 Jul 2026 23:15 IST