Chinnaswamy stampede: Karnataka govt revokes suspension of 4 police officers, including Dayanand IPS
Bengaluru, Jul 28 (PTI): Karnataka government on Monday revoked the suspension of four police officers, including the then Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda, who were suspended in connection with the June 4 stampede outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium here, which left 11 people dead.
However, the suspension of Vikash Kumar Vikash - Inspector General of Police, stands as proceedings related to his case are currently underway in the Karnataka High Court, official sources said.
According to the government order, the suspension has been revoked as both the Judicial Commission and Magisterial committee have completed their inquiry into the stampede incident and submitted their reports to the government, and the officers have also submitted representations requesting to revoke their suspension.
The officials whose suspensions have been revoked are IPS officers: B Dayananda - Additional Director General of Police and Shekar H Tekkannavar - Superintendent of Police. Also, two Karnataka State Police Service officers: C Balakrishna - Deputy SP and A K Girish - Police Inspector.
On July 1, the central administrative tribunal (CAT) Bengaluru bench quashed the suspension of Vikash, challenging which, the state government had moved the High Court.
"In view of the facts and circumstances explained in the preamble, the Government of Karnataka, in exercise of the powers conferred under Rule3(7)(c) of All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules 1969, hereby revokes the order of suspension of B Dayananda, IPS (KN: 1994) and Shekar H Tekkannavar, IPS (KN: 2014) and reinstates into service with immediate effect, pending the initiation of Disciplinary proceedings under Rule 8 of All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules 1969," an official order said.
It said, "Further, Government of Karnataka in exercise of the powers conferred under rule 5(5) of Karnataka State Police (Disciplinary Proceedings) rule 1965, hereby revokes the order of suspension of C Balakrishna, Dy.SP and Ð K Girish, Police Inspector and reinstates into service with immediate effect, pending the initiation of Disciplinary proceedings as per Rules."
The stampede occurred on June 4 evening outside the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru, where a large number of people thronged to participate in the RCB team's IPL victory celebrations. Eleven people died and 56 were injured in the incident.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on June 5 had ordered the suspension of five officers.
"...it is found that there has been on the face of it substantial dereliction of duty by these officers," their suspension order had said.
The order revoking the suspension issued on Monday says the government had ordered a magisterial inquiry by Jagadish G, IAS, Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate, Bengaluru Urban District into the stampede incident. Further, the government had also constituted an one man Judicial Commission under chairmanship of Retired Justice of High Court of Karnataka John Michael Cunha to inquire into the same incident.
Since, both the Judicial Commission and Magisterial committee have completed their enquiry into the stampede incident and submitted their reports to the government on July 10 and July 11 respectively and further the officers also have submitted representations requesting to revoke their suspension, the order of suspension of the officers have been reconsidered by the government, it said.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Always stood by CM, will continue to do so in future, says Dy CM Shivakumar
Bengaluru (PTI): Seeking to junk claims of power tussle in the state, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Monday asserted that he has always stood by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and will continue to do so in future as well.
He said it is the party high command which decides leadership matters and the backing of certain number of MLAs could not decide anything.
During a discussion in the Karnataka Assembly, opposition leader R Ashoka said Shivakumar often spoke about the right time.
"Shivakumar says time will give the answer. We will get relief if he discloses which time he is talking about," Ashoka said.
The BJP leader said he has heard from Shivakumar’s camp that there are at least 56 MLAs to support the deputy chief minister.
"When I asked a person from Chief Minister’s camp he said every morning these 56 people go to Shivakumar’s camp and return to the CM’s camp by the evening. Labour Minister Santosh Lad is from the same category," Ashoka claimed. He added that Shivakumar was in a dilemma over whom to trust.
Lad took exception to Ashoka's statement and rejected being the follower of a particular camp, and retorted saying that the BJP is an "expert" in bringing down governments.
Ashoka said the BJP will never topple the government and hinted that the power tussle would bring down the Congress regime in the state.
He said Shivakumar should clear the air because for the past month, his speeches, statements, and social media posts have been conveying hundreds of meaning, thereby adding confusion.
Replying, the Deputy CM said, his strength is "139 MLAs" including the chief minister.
Further, the deputy chief minister said: "Siddaramaiah is also with me 100 per cent. There is no question on it. We both are together, working to fulfill the promises made to the people of Karnataka. We are marching in that direction and will continue to do so in future as well. There should not be any confusion."
He asserted that he always stood by Siddaramaiah during crisis and will do so in future. "He (Siddaramaiah) will also stand by me,” the Deputy CM said.
On his social media post, he said: "Decisions are not taken based on the number but it is the party leadership which decides. It is applies to both yours and my party."
The BJP replaced a number of chief ministers, MLAs were also changed and a major cabinet reshuffle happened, he added.
