‘Who is responsible for Chinnaswamy stampede?’: BJP MLA Suresh Kumar questions govt after clean chit to 3 IPS officers

BENGALURU: Former Law Minister and BJP MLA S Suresh Kumar on Wednesday questioned the Karnataka government over the Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede case, after three IPS officers who were earlier suspended were given a clean chit.

Speaking about the incident, he recalled that on the evening of June 4, 2025, during the RCB team’s IPL victory celebrations near Chinnaswamy Cricket Stadium, a stampede occurred in which 11 innocent people died, and 50 others were injured. “That day, someone ate curd rice and wiped it on someone else’s face”, he said, referring to the suspension of the officers.

“Three IPS officers were made scapegoats and suspended at that time. Now the same government has given a clean chit to those three officers and cleared them of all charges,” he said.

Suresh Kumar said he had strongly condemned the suspension of the three officers during the discussion in the Assembly and had stated that it was an attempt by the key people in the government to escape accountability. “Now that these three officers have been cleared of charges, I have only one question for the government: Who is at fault for the Chinnaswamy Stadium tragedy of 4.6.2025? Who will take responsibility?” he asked.

He further alleged that the government was also not providing accounts for the alleged Rs 5,000 crore “missing” from the Gruha Lakshmi scheme, and was not taking responsibility for the Chinnaswamy stadium tragedy. “Can this be called responsible governance?” he asked.

The Karnataka government has closed the departmental enquiry proceedings against three IPS officers, including former Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda, exonerating them of charges in connection with the stampede. The officers, B Dayananda, Shekhar H Tekkannavar and Vikash Kumar Vikash, were facing disciplinary proceedings in connection with the incident.

Separate government orders issued by the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms on July 14, 2026, stated that the competent authority decided to drop the enquiries after examining their statements of defence and the opinion of the administrative department. (ANI)