DNA Networks director, police officers depose before DC as part of magisterial inquiry into stampede

BENGALURU: Senior IPS officer B Dayananda, suspended in the aftermath of the Chinnaswamy stadium stampede case, and DNA Networks Director Sunil Mathew have been issued two notices to appear for questioning by Bengaluru Urban Deputy Commissioner Jagadeesha G in connection with the ongoing magisterial inquiry.

Following the notices, Mathew appeared and was questioned by the DC today. The High Court had granted interim bail to Sunil Mathew and three other accused in the case.

The DC has already questioned several police personnel, including those who were in charge of security, and has also spoken to the injured and the families of the deceased. If Dayananda misses the inquiry today, the DC will likely serve him a third notice.

The magistrate’s investigation into the stampede, which resulted in 11 deaths and injuries to over 65, is ongoing, and the forensic experts who conducted the post-mortem examination have been questioned. Over 50 injured people and 11 families of the deceased have been questioned so far.

More than 40 police personnel, including officers assigned to bandobast duty, including Southeast Division DCP Sara Fatima, Yeshwanthpur ACP Mary Shailaja, and suspended Inspector Girish, who was the Cubbon Park Inspector, appeared before the DC today. Those who were in charge of security have also been questioned.

The inquiry is ongoing, and the DC is gathering more information to determine the cause of the stampede.