The Karnataka government has reversed its earlier decision and reinstated four police officers who were suspended following a tragic stampede outside Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on June 4, 2025. The stampede, which occurred during a public event celebrating Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) IPL campaign, resulted in 11 deaths and injuries to 56 others.

The reinstated officers include former Bengaluru Police Commissioner B. Dayananda, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central Division) Shekhar H. Tekannavar, Assistant Commissioner of Police C. Balakrishna, and Inspector A. K. Girish. These officers were initially held responsible for lapses in crowd management that led to the deadly incident.

The decision to revoke the suspensions came after the submission of reports by both a judicial commission and a magisterial committee that investigated the incident. The government order also noted that the officers had filed petitions requesting the revocation of their suspensions. A senior source within the Home Department stated that the government found it appropriate to revoke the suspension orders after considering the reports and the officers' appeals.

However, the suspension of Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Vikash Kumar Vikash remains in force. Although the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) had revoked his suspension on July 1, the state government has challenged the ruling in the Karnataka High Court, where proceedings are ongoing.

The stampede took place when thousands of fans gathered outside the stadium for a felicitation ceremony organized by the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) to honor the RCB players after they won the Indian Premier League (IPL) title. The lack of effective crowd management and coordination between departments was cited as a major factor contributing to the chaos.

In the immediate aftermath of the incident, the government suspended five senior officers, citing gross dereliction of duty and promising a thorough probe. The current revocation of suspensions signals a shift in the government's stance, suggesting that the officers have been exonerated through official inquiries.

The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) had earlier directed the government to reinstate Vikash Kumar Vikash immediately and treat his suspension period as on-duty, entitling him to full pay and allowances. Despite this, the state government challenged the CAT order in the High Court. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) also approached the High Court, contesting the CAT's remarks that held the franchise primarily responsible for the stampede. RCB argued that it had not been given an opportunity to respond before such observations were made.

The disciplinary proceedings ordered against the five officers will continue. The opposition BJP has welcomed the reinstatement of the officers, stating that it vindicates their stand that the police officers were not responsible for the incident. They have called for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar to take responsibility for the deaths of the fans and resign from their posts.