Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah’s political secretary Govindaraju removed

A number of shoes and slippers lying outside Chinnaswamy Stadium after a stampede during Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)‘s victory celebrations, in Bengaluru.
| Photo Credit: ANI

K. Govindaraju, a close aide of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, has been relieved of his duties as political secretary, said a notification issued by the State governments on Friday (June 6, 2025).

This comes a day after a number of police officers, including Bengaluru city commissioner, were suspended over the stampede at M Chinnaswamy stadium.

Though no official reason was given for Govindaraj’s removal, the decision is said to be linked to the June 4 stampede incident outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru that killed 11 people.

The stampede occurred on Wednesday evening in front of the stadium, where a large number of people thronged to participate in the RCB team’s IPL victory celebrations. Eleven people have died and 56 were injured in the incident.

“The appointment of K Govindaraj as Political Secretary to the Chief Minister is hereby revoked with immediate effect. Accordingly, K Govindaraj is hereby relieved from the post of Political Secretary to the Chief Minister with immediate effect,” an official notification said.

(with inputs from PTI)