The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) ruled that IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) is initially responsible for the events of June 4, when a stampede at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium resulted in 11 deaths. The CAT overturned the suspension of Vikash Kumar Vikash, who was serving as Additional Commissioner of Police (West) at the time, stating that the suspension order was made without sufficient evidence. The Tribunal urged the Karnataka government to reinstate him and extend the same benefit to other suspended officers, including former Bengaluru Police Commissioner B. Dayananda.
The ruling is a blow to the State government, as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had personally announced the suspensions. The order may be challenged in the Karnataka High Court. The CAT emphasized that police are not omnipotent beings and require adequate time to make arrangements for events like the one on June 4.
The CAT found that RCB did not obtain proper permission for the event, violating regulations. The club’s victory parade announcements on social media attracted a large crowd, for which RCB did not seek police consent. The Tribunal stated that RCB is responsible for the massive gathering and creating a nuisance without permission.
The CAT also noted that there was no substantial evidence to justify the suspensions of the police officers involved in the incident. The judicial inquiry commission formed by the State Government to investigate the stampede did not identify responsible parties until after the suspensions were made.
Follow Franchise Cricket for more IPL news.
