Dayananda’s Suspension Revoked, But No Return as Bengaluru Police Commissioner

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara announced on Tuesday that former Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda, along with three other officers, has had his suspension revoked following the June 4, 2025, Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede that killed 11 and injured 56 during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) IPL victory celebrations. However, Dayananda will not return to his former role as Bengaluru Police Commissioner and will be reassigned to a post equivalent to his rank of Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), pending ongoing departmental inquiries.

The reinstated officers include IPS officers Dayananda and Shekar H Tekkannavar (Superintendent of Police), and Karnataka State Police Service officers C Balakrishna (Deputy SP) and A K Girish (Police Inspector). The decision, notified on Monday, follows the submission of reports by the Judicial Commission led by retired Justice John Michael D’Cunha and the magisterial inquiry by Bengaluru Urban Deputy Commissioner G Jagadeesha on July 10 and 11, respectively, alongside representations from the officers. The fifth officer, Inspector General of Police Vikash Kumar Vikash, remains suspended due to ongoing Karnataka High Court proceedings after the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) quashed his suspension on July 1, a decision the state government has challenged.

Parameshwara clarified that the revocation is not a setback, stating, “Suspension was an administrative decision, now revoked, but the departmental inquiry continues.” He emphasized that the cabinet discussed the inquiry reports before reinstating the officers, with further action pending inquiry outcomes. The stampede, triggered by an unprecedented crowd of over 2 lakh fans against the stadium’s 35,000 capacity, led to an FIR against RCB, Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), and DNA Entertainment for criminal negligence under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections, including culpable homicide.

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Public sentiment on X, under hashtags like #IStandWithBDayananda, reflects strong support for Dayananda, with users like @dp_satish and @nagarjund praising his reinstatement but criticizing the initial suspension as scapegoating. The BJP has demanded resignations of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, alleging negligence. A new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for large events is being drafted to prevent future incidents, as announced by Parameshwara.

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