Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) Head of Marketing Nikhil Sosale and three others have been arrested as an investigation was launched after a stampede broke out outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. It claimed 11 lives during the team’s victory celebrations after they won the Indian Premier League 2025 (IPL 2025) trophy.
The mood in Bengaluru had been electric. After years of waiting, Royal Challengers Bengaluru finally had an IPL trophy in their cabinet. The city was ready to celebrate. But as lakhs of fans gathered around the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday afternoon, the excitement quickly turned to mayhem.
What was meant to be a victory parade ended in disaster as 11 lives were lost and dozens got injured in a stampede. Families, students and office-goers, everyone wanted in. But with no clear communication and bottlenecks at every gate, panic took over. The police were outnumbered. The organisers were caught off-guard. An afternoon of joy collapsed into a public tragedy that is now under the scanner.
Also read: Grief in Bengaluru: Stampede at RCB Parade Claims Lives, Cricketing World Reacts
RCB Marketing Head Nikhil Sosale and Three Others Arrested After Bengaluru Parade Stampede
As the situation unfolded, public anger grew over how the event was managed. Bengaluru police launched an investigation, and by Friday, four people had been arrested in connection with the incident. One of them was Nikhil Sosale, who heads marketing and revenue for RCB. He was taken into custody from the Kempegowda International Airport while reportedly trying to leave the city.
Apart from Sosale, three officials from DNA Entertainment Networks Private Limited, the event management company that helped organise the celebrations, were also arrested. These include Sunil Mathew, Kiran Kumar, and Sumanth, all of whom played roles in putting together the parade. The police have accused them of negligence and failure to ensure proper crowd control measures.
A formal FIR (First Information Report) was registered against multiple parties, including RCB, DNA Entertainment Networks, and even the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA).
Notably, senior Karnataka State Cricket Association officials, namely the secretary and treasurer, were reportedly untraceable when police teams arrived at their residences.
CM Orders Arrests, Bengaluru Police Commissioner Among Those Suspended
The developments come shortly after Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah issued clear instructions for the arrest of top functionaries from Royal Challengers Bengaluru, DNA Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., and the KSCA.
Alongside the arrests, the state has also taken administrative action. Bengaluru City Police Commissioner B. Dayananda, along with other senior officers, has been suspended for failing to ensure basic crowd control and safety during the celebration.
