Chinnaswamy stampede: State tells Karnataka High Court ACP Vikash Kumar has been reinstated

The Karnataka High Court was on Friday informed by the state that it has revoked the suspension of Additional Commissioner of Police (ACP) Vikash Kumar Vikash and reinstated him [State of Karnataka v. Vikash Kumar Vikash and ors].

Vikash had been suspended after the stampede outside Chinnaswamy Stadium during the celebrations of the Indian Premier League (IPL)-win of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) .

However, his suspension was later revoked by a Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT). The decision was challenged by the State government before the High Court.

Today, Senior Advocate PS Rajagopal, appearing for the State, submitted before a Bench of Justices SG Pandit and TM Nadaf that Kumar has been reinstated and has resumed the duty today. Considering the submission, the Court disposed of the petitions related to the CAT order.

Senior Advocate Dhyan Chinnappa, appearing for ACP Kumar, had earlier questioned the State's argument that the cops had behaved like "servants of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)" when they made security arrangements for the RCB victory parade.

He had also questioned the State's submission that the suspended cops had caused embarrassment to the government.

"Commissioner of Police was handling this, he is the head (of police). Who are these higher ups we have to go to apart from this? Embarrassment to government can't be reason to suspend anyone," Chinnappa said.