Karnataka Government Exonerates IPS Officers in Stadium Stampede Case

The Government of Karnataka exonerated three senior IPS officers on July 14, 2026, closing departmental inquiries into a stampede at Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy Stadium. The incident occurred on June 4, 2025, during Royal Challengers Bengaluru's maiden IPL title celebrations, when approximately 2.5 lakh people overwhelmed security, resulting in 11 deaths and between 50 and 56 injuries.

B. Dayananda, Vikash Kumar Vikash, and Shekhar H. Tekkannavar had been suspended on June 5, 2025, though those suspensions were revoked in July 2025. Following a review of defense statements submitted in September 2025, the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms dropped the charges. While Dayananda and Vikash were fully cleared, the government issued a warning to Tekkannavar, instructing him to act responsibly to prevent future recurrences.

Opposition leaders condemned the decision on July 15, 2026. Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka alleged the tragedy was a government-sponsored killing and claimed the current administration is attempting to bury the case. Ashoka asserted that then-Chief Minister Siddaramaiah approved celebrations at two venues on the same day despite police warnings. Similarly, BJP MLA S. Suresh Kumar argued that the IPS officers were used as scapegoats and questioned who would now take responsibility for the deaths.