RCB Marketing Head Arrested Over Bengaluru Stampede
In the aftermath of a tragic stampede during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) IPL victory celebrations, Bengaluru police have arrested four individuals, including RCB’s marketing head, Nikhil Sosale. The incident, which occurred outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, resulted in 11 fatalities and over 50 injuries.
Sosale was apprehended at Kempegowda International Airport while attempting to travel to Mumbai. Alongside him, three executives from DNA Entertainment Networks—Sunil Mathew, Kiran Kumar, and Sumanth—were detained. These arrests follow a First Information Report (FIR) filed against RCB, DNA Entertainment Networks, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) for alleged negligence in event planning and crowd management.
The stampede occurred on June 4, 2025, during a bus parade organized to celebrate RCB’s maiden IPL title win. Despite the event’s cancellation due to crowd control concerns, thousands had already gathered, leading to chaos and a deadly crowd surge when Gate 3 of the stadium was partially opened.
In response to the incident, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah ordered the suspension of several senior police officials, including Bengaluru Police Commissioner B. Dayananda, citing lapses in crowd control and safety protocols. The state government has also announced a compensation of ₹10 lakh for the families of each deceased victim and pledged to cover medical expenses for the injured.
The investigation has been handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), with a judicial inquiry led by retired Karnataka High Court judge Justice Michael D’Cunha also underway. The incident has sparked widespread criticism over the handling of large public gatherings and the need for stringent safety measures.
As the probe continues, authorities are focusing on identifying the specific lapses that led to the tragedy, aiming to prevent such incidents in the future and ensure accountability among event organizers and law enforcement agencies.
