CAT Blames RCB for Bengaluru Stadium Stampede That Killed 11; Police Cleared of Blame. IPS Officer Vikas Kumar Also Relieved.
Bengaluru stampede RCB: On June 4, 2025, a stampede at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, during celebrations of an Indian Premier League (IPL) victory, tragically resulted in the deaths of 11 people and injuries to many others. Now, the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has delivered a significant verdict regarding this incident. The CAT has directly held Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) responsible for the tragedy.
Event Announced Without Prior Notice
According to the CAT, RCB suddenly announced the victory celebration on social media, leading to thousands of people gathering outside the stadium. The tribunal stated that neither prior permission was sought from the police for the event, nor was any formal notification given.
Consequently, the police administration did not have sufficient time for crowd control and security arrangements. The order clarified that it was not possible for the police to make arrangements with only 12 hours' notice.
CAT Declares Police Innocent
The CAT has given a clean chit to the Bengaluru police in this case. The tribunal stated that it was not appropriate to blame the police because they did not have adequate time to prepare for the event. The CAT also said, "Police officers are neither gods, nor magicians, nor do they have Aladdin's lamp with which they can accomplish something with a snap of their fingers."
Relief for IPS Officer Vikas Kumar
Following the incident, the central government had suspended Vikas Kumar, the then Inspector General and Additional Commissioner of Police, West Zone, Bengaluru. However, the CAT has quashed the suspension, terming it illegal. The tribunal said that he was made a scapegoat without any fault. It also ordered that the suspension period be added to his service period.
Share Information Responsibly on Social Media: CAT
The CAT, while bly reprimanding RCB, said that it is mandatory to follow all administrative procedures before sharing information about any major event. Especially before using a fast medium like social media, necessary steps should have been taken regarding its potential reaction and crowd control.
