On June 5, 2025, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced the suspension of several senior police officials in the wake of a tragic stampede that occurred outside M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The incident, which took place during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) victory parade following their first-ever Indian Premier League (IPL) title win, resulted in the deaths of 11 individuals and left over 50 others injured.

The suspended officials include Bengaluru City Police Commissioner B. Dayanand, Additional Commissioner (West) Vikash Kumar Vikash, and Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Shekhar H. Tekkannavar. These actions were taken after a high-level review by CM Siddaramaiah and his deputy, DK Shivakumar, who held a meeting with senior officials to assess the situation and determine accountability.

The stampede occurred when thousands of fans, who had gathered to celebrate RCB’s victory, rushed towards the stadium’s Gate No. 7. Eyewitnesses reported that the crowd was dense and chaotic, leading to the tragic incident. The police’s response to the situation has been criticized for its lack of preparedness and crowd management.

In addition to the suspensions, CM Siddaramaiah announced that a one-member commission, led by former Karnataka High Court Justice Michael Cunha, would investigate the incident. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has also been tasked with probing the matter further. The state government has promised compensation of ₹10 lakh to the families of the deceased and free medical treatment for the injured.

The incident has sparked widespread outrage, with opposition parties demanding accountability from the state government and event organizers. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has called for the arrest of CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, drawing parallels to previous incidents where political leaders were held accountable for similar tragedies.