Saturday, March 29, 2025
In a major crackdown following the deadly stampede at Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Karnataka police have arrested four individuals, including RCB’s Head of Marketing, Nikhil Sosale. Sosale was apprehended at the Bengaluru airport on Thursday while en route to Mumbai. The action comes in the wake of public outrage over the June 4 tragedy, which left 11 people dead and over 50 injured during Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) IPL victory celebration.
Apart from Sosale, three senior officials from DNA Entertainment Networks, the event management company responsible for organizing the celebration, have also been arrested. Authorities confirmed that FIRs were filed under multiple charges, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, under mounting pressure from opposition parties, took swift action on Thursday. He directed the suspension of Bengaluru Police Commissioner B. Dayanand, replacing him with senior IPS officer Seemanth Kumar Singh until further notice. Furthermore, the CM instructed state police to arrest key representatives from RCB, DNA Entertainment, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA).
During a press conference after the cabinet meeting, Siddaramaiah announced the formation of a one-member judicial inquiry commission under retired High Court Judge Michael Cunha, with a mandate to submit a report within 30 days.
“The cabinet deliberated in detail on this painful incident. We are committed to transparency and accountability,” Siddaramaiah stated.
The incident has triggered a political storm, with the BJP demanding the resignations of both CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar, accusing the government of playing “dirty politics” while failing to ensure public safety. Opposition leaders have slammed the ruling Congress for negligence and called the tragedy a result of poor planning and crowd mismanagement.
The stampede broke out during a public event organized to celebrate RCB’s IPL 2025 win. According to eyewitness accounts, thousands of fans had gathered, overwhelming the venue’s capacity. Chaos erupted when gates were closed due to overcrowding, leading to a stampede that proved fatal for many.
The tragedy and subsequent arrests mark one of the most serious legal and administrative responses to a sporting event disaster in recent Indian memory.
