National: The head of marketing and revenue for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Nikhil Sosale, has been arrested in connection with the deadly stampede that occurred outside M Chinnaswamy Stadium during the IPL victory celebrations on June 4. The incident resulted in the deaths of 11 people and injured 64.
Sosale, who is employed by Diageo India, was detained at Bengaluru airport as he attempted to fly to Mumbai. His arrest marks a significant development in the investigation, as authorities intensify efforts to identify lapses in event planning and crowd control.
In addition to Sosale, three employees of DNA Entertainment Networks Pvt. Ltd., the firm that managed the event, were taken into custody. The individuals, identified as Kiran, Sumanth, and Sunil Mathew, are currently being interrogated by the police.
The first information report (FIR) names RCB, DNA Entertainment, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) as accused parties. The police are also searching for KSCA’s secretary and treasurer, who are reportedly absconding.
According to sources, RCB’s social media team announced the parade on X (formerly Twitter) before consulting local police, which is believed to have triggered the massive turnout. The police say that permission for the parade was sought after the announcement and was officially denied.
The incident has led to a wider fallout, with the Karnataka government suspending several top-ranking police officials, including Bengaluru City Police Commissioner B Dayananda. The opposition BJP has demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, amid mounting public outrage.
The investigation is ongoing, with authorities examining coordination failures among the event organisers, cricket authorities, and law enforcement.
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