Bengaluru Stampede Fallout: RCB Marketing Head, Event Organiser Arrested Amid Ongoing Probe
Two days after a tragic stampede in Bengaluru marred celebrations of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) historic IPL title win, police on Friday arrested Nikhil Sosale, RCB’s Head of Marketing, and Sunil Mathew, a representative from the event management firm DNA Entertainment, at Kempegowda International Airport.
Authorities confirmed that two more individuals have also been taken into custody in connection with the incident.
On Thursday, the Bengaluru police officially filed cases against RCB management, DNA Entertainment, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), citing negligence that led to the chaos.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had directed the immediate arrest of all responsible representatives. According to police, KSCA officials have been missing since Thursday night and are currently being traced.
The arrests came just hours after Seemanth Kumar Singh, a senior IPS officer from the 1996 batch, assumed charge as the new Bengaluru City Police Commissioner, replacing B Dayananda—one of several senior officials suspended for their roles in the mismanagement that led to the tragedy.
Speaking to the media after taking charge, Singh said, “I will review the situation with my team immediately and initiate necessary actions. Accountability will be ensured.”
Singh, originally from Bihar, brings considerable experience, having previously served as Superintendent of Police (SP) in Dakshina Kannada and as the inaugural Police Commissioner of Mangaluru.
He also held the position of Additional Commissioner of Police, Bengaluru East, in 2019.
The state government had, on Thursday, suspended multiple top police officials for their failure to control the crowd.
These included Additional Commissioner Vikash Kumar Vikash, DCP (Central) Shekhar H.T., ACP C. Balakrishna, and Cubbon Park Police Inspector Girish A.K., alongside former commissioner Dayananda.
A Day Meant for Celebration Ends in Tragedy
What began as a moment of joy for cricket fans across Karnataka quickly spiralled into tragedy on Wednesday, following poor crowd control and miscommunication regarding RCB’s victory celebrations.
RCB, fresh off their first-ever IPL title win, had initially announced an open-top bus parade to take place from Vidhana Soudha to the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, followed by a celebratory event inside the stadium for fans with free passes.
However, confusion set in when, by 11:56 am, the Bengaluru Traffic Police issued a notice that the parade had been cancelled.
Despite this, fans had already started gathering along the route and outside the stadium, eager to get a glimpse of the players and take part in the celebrations.
RCB players arrived at HAL Airport around 1:30 pm, checked into their hotel, and proceeded to Vidhana Soudha for a brief felicitation ceremony by the Chief Minister.
By the afternoon, thousands had gathered along the planned parade route and at the stadium. Many fans climbed onto trees, ledges, and even the roof of the nearby Karnataka High Court to catch a view.
Anticipating crowd-related risks, Namma Metro authorities bypassed Cubbon Park and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar stations to manage the growing influx of fans.
By 3 pm, police estimated that more than 50,000 people were crammed into a one-kilometre radius around the stadium.
Chaos erupted around 4 pm when Gate 3 of the stadium was partially opened.
A mix of legitimate pass-holders and people without passes surged forward in a rush to enter, resulting in a stampede that left 11 dead and dozens injured.
Moving Forward: Accountability and Reform
The incident has sparked widespread outrage, with questions raised over mismanagement, poor communication, and a lack of crowd control measures.
The government has vowed a thorough investigation and stricter enforcement to prevent such tragedies in the future.
The RCB tragedy is now a stark reminder of how quickly joy can turn into sorrow when public safety is compromised.
The ongoing probe and arrests are part of a broader effort to ensure justice for the victims and accountability for those responsible.
