Amid the Bengaluru stampede row, MLC K. Govindaraj, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's political secretary, has been relieved from the post with immediate effect on Friday.
An official notification from the state government said, "The appointment of K Govindaraj as Political Secretary to the Chief Minister is hereby revoked with immediate effect."
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Though the exact reason for Govindaraj's removal is not known, the decision comes a day after Siddaramaiah suspended Bengaluru police commissioner B. Dayanananda and four other senior police officials in connection with the stampede incident.
Reportedly, Govindaraj had counselled the CM against hosting a grand victory parade for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) IPL team. However, refuting the reports, Govindaraj said that his comments were "misinterpreted". "I never advised the CM on this matter," he said.
He also said that he had no involvement in the planning or decision-making around the felicitation event that ended in tragedy, reported Times of India.
Senior IPS officer Seemant Kumar Singh took charge as city police commissioner on Friday after Dayanananda was removed from the post.
The suspension of the city commissioner and other officials has created a row in the state. While speaking on the recent suspensions, Siddaramaiah said that those who have not fulfilled their responsibility properly have been suspended.
On June 4, the stampede incident outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium killed 11 people and injured over 50.
Meanwhile, the Karnataka High Court on Friday granted interim protection from arrest to key office bearers of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) in connection with the stampede.
The HC was hearing petitions seeking to quash the FIR against KSCA office-bearers. However, the court directed the petitioners to cooperate with the ongoing investigation.
"No precipitative action shall be taken against the management of the Karnataka State Cricket Association till the next date of hearing, subject to the condition that they cooperate with the investigation," the bench ordered. The next date of hearing is set on June 16.
The HC has taken suo motu cognisance of the incident and has asked the state to file a status report.
