Massive crackdown: RCB officials arrested, Police commissioner suspended after Bengaluru stampede horror

Bengaluru Police arrested three individuals following the tragic stampede at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Friday, which claimed 11 lives during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) IPL victory celebrations. RCB marketing head Nikhil Sosale was among those arrested in connection with the stampede.

RCB lifted their maiden IPL trophy on Tuesday after defeating Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the 2025 final in Ahmedabad. However, the celebrations took a tragic turn as huge crowds gathered to witness the team’s victory. While the stadium has a capacity of around 35,000, two to three lakh people turned up.

RCB Marketing Chief Nikhil Sosale Arrested in Bengaluru Stampede Investigation

According to a report by Cricbuzz, Bengaluru Police arrested three individuals in connection with the stampede that occurred during RCB IPL victory celebrations outside M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Nikhil Sosale was taken into custody at the Bengaluru airport while heading to Mumbai.

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The arrests came after Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah ordered legal action against those responsible, including officials from RCB, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), and DNA Entertainment Networks — the event management firm involved.

Sunil Mathew, Vice President - Business Affairs, and Kiran Kumar, Senior Event Manager from DNA Entertainment, were also arrested. The Cubbon Park police have named RCB management, KSCA officials, and DNA Entertainment Private Limited in the FIR filed following the tragic incident.

Nikhil Sosale’s Role at RCB Amid Bengaluru Stampede

Nikhil Sosale was present at every Royal Challengers Bengaluru IPL match during the 2025 season. He was seen sitting next to Anushka Sharma, Virat Kohli’s wife, in the stands.

Sosale has been involved with the franchise since its early days. According to his LinkedIn profile, Sosale leads the design, strategy, and execution of RCB’s business and marketing initiatives.

Sosale is a double major in Business from James Cook University, where he studied from 2008 to 2010. He is married to Malvika Nayak, who leads business development and partnerships at Innoz Technologies Pvt. Ltd. The couple is known to hang out with Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma.

Karnataka Chief Minister suspends Bengaluru police chief

The Karnataka Chief Minister announced that a retired High Court judge, Justice Michael D'Cunha, will lead a one-man judicial commission to investigate the stampede tragedy. Notably, the commission will submit its report within 30 days.

"The cabinet, in its wisdom, has made a decision to entrust (to investigate) yesterday's tragedy to a one-man judicial commission, headed by retired high court judge of Karnataka Justice Michael D'Cunha. We have told the commission to give the report in 30 days and also instructed IGP and DGP of the state to arrest immediately the RCB representative DNA event managers and the person representing KSCA," the Karnataka chief minister had said on Thursday.

"And also, the cabinet has made a decision to suspend immediately Police Inspector of the Cubbon Park PS, ACP of that particular area, DCP of Central division, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Additional Commissioner of Police, the Incharge of the Stadium and Commissioner of Police of Bengaluru City."

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