RCB Marketing Head Nikhil Sosale Arrested at Bengaluru Airport Over Stadium Stampede That Left 11 Dead
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) marketing head Nikhil Sosale was arrested by Bengaluru Police at the city airport while attempting to board a flight to Mumbai, reports India Today. His arrest is linked to the tragic stampede outside M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4, which resulted in the deaths of 11 people.
Sosale, who also serves as head of marketing and revenue at Diageo India, was taken into custody as part of a wider investigation. Authorities have also detained three employees from DNA Entertainment Networks Pvt. Ltd., the firm that managed the RCB victory celebrations.
The crackdown follows a directive from Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who ordered the arrest of key individuals from RCB, DNA Entertainment, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), shortly after an FIR was lodged on multiple serious charges, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
In a related move, Siddaramaiah has suspended Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda and several senior officers for lapses in crowd management.
Additionally, Pune Police have registered a suo motu FIR against 40 individuals who gathered on FC Road late Tuesday night to celebrate RCB’s IPL victory. The crowd reportedly danced on the streets, blocked traffic, burst firecrackers, and created a public nuisance in violation of orders from public authorities. The case has been filed under charges related to disobedience of an order promulgated by a public servant. Police officials stated that further action will be taken based on CCTV footage and AI-based surveillance analysis.
