Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru

Bengaluru, July 2: The Karnataka government on Wednesday moved the High Court challenging the order of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), Bengaluru bench, which had revoked the suspension of IPS officer Vikash Kumar Vikash in connection with the June 4 stampede outside Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

The matter was mentioned for urgent hearing by Advocate General Shashikiran Shetty before a division bench headed by Justice S G Pandit. The court indicated that it would take up the petition on Thursday, July 3.

The CAT, in its order passed on Tuesday, July 1, had set aside the state government’s suspension order dated June 5, 2025, against Vikash Kumar. In its observations, the tribunal criticised the decision, stating it was passed “in a mechanical manner, not based on convincing materials and without any sufficient material or grounds.”

The tribunal also made significant remarks regarding the cause of the incident, noting that the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) franchise appeared to be “prima facie responsible” for the huge turnout of approximately three to five lakh people outside the stadium.

According to the CAT, RCB had not obtained the necessary permission or consent from the police for the fan event that drew the massive crowd and eventually led to the stampede.

The High Court is now set to review whether the CAT’s findings hold legal ground and whether the suspension of the officer was justified under service rules and in light of the available evidence.