June 6, 2025: In a major development in the Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede case, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Marketing Head Nikhil Sosale was arrested on Friday at Bengaluru Airport while attempting to board a flight to Mumbai. The arrest follows a police investigation into the deadly stampede that occurred during RCB’s IPL 2025 victory celebrations.
🔴 FIR Filed, Organisers Detained
A First Information Report (FIR) was filed on Thursday against RCB, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), and DNA Entertainment Networks Pvt. Ltd., the event organisers. The FIR includes Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which pertains to culpable homicide, among other charges. The case is being handled by Cubbon Park Police Station, where interrogation is currently underway.
Three staff members from DNA Entertainment, the company that managed RCB’s post-season festivities, have also been detained for questioning.
📣 Unauthorised Parade and Lack of Police Clearance
According to Republic and India Today reports, Nikhil Sosale had been coordinating closely with DNA Entertainment to organise promotional events and the widely publicised “Victory Parade” from Vidhana Soudha to Chinnaswamy Stadium. Authorities say the parade announcement, which went viral on social media, lacked prior police approval, making it unauthorised.
Despite the absence of official clearance, thousands of RCB fans flooded the area outside Chinnaswamy Stadium on the day of the celebration, leading to massive overcrowding and ultimately, a deadly stampede.
🕯️ Human Cost and Political Fallout
The tragic event claimed the lives of at least 11 individuals and left over 30 others injured, with two in critical condition. The incident has sparked intense public and political outrage, with opposition leaders and civil rights groups demanding accountability from both the franchise and the authorities.
In response, the Karnataka government has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the stampede and its causes.
📌 What’s Next?
As the investigation unfolds, focus remains on how the event was allowed to proceed without official sanction, and the chain of decision-making that led to the tragedy. The police are expected to continue interrogations and may issue further arrests or summons in the coming days.