RCB Marketing Chief Nikhil Sosale Arrested in Bengaluru Stadium Stampede Case

Nikhil Sosale, head of marketing and revenue for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), was arrested on Friday, although details are hazy, after the Bangalore police arrested four persons in relation to the stampede which killed eleven persons during a celebration following RCB's win at a T20 IPL match at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Sosale was arrested at Bengaluru airport while preparing to board a flight to Mumbai.

Krishna Ashwathnarayana, a senior officer working on the case of the stampede, has indicated that Sosale's arrest will not be the last for this event. Of the four people arrested so far, three are from DNA Entertainment Networks Pvt. Ltd, the event managing company which organized the celebration for the RCB team.

Some Legal Implications and Charges 

The police have prepared a First Information Report (FIR) against RCB, Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), and DNA Entertainment under five sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, much to the shock of the cricketing community in India. The FIR includes section 105 relating to culpable homicide with respect to the eleven dead and a long list of 'non-safety behaviours' in terms of crowd management that lead to the horrendous stampede.

The Horrific Tragic Incident 

The stampede occurred when an estimated 2-3 lakh people converged on a venue that holds approximately 35,000 people. In reports leading up to the deadly stampede, a temporary slab was placed over a drain which collapsed under the weight of this crowd, and triggered the panic event leading to the deaths.

About the Arrested Official of RCB

Sosale has been associated with RCB in one capacity or another since it was created in 2008 and is the franchise's business and marketing lead at the firm, Diageo India. Sosale is highly visible in coach displays during RCB IPL matches for 2025.

During the events telecast on the day of the IPL match against RCB, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced that event organizers will be "under arrest" adding that while the state gave support with security, the cricket association organized the event.