The IPL 2025 victory celebration of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) has taken a tragic turn after a deadly stampede outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium claimed 11 lives and injured more than 50 people. The event, meant to honour RCB’s first-ever IPL trophy win, ended in chaos and sparked public outrage.
Bengaluru Police have now arrested Nikhil Sosale, the marketing head of RCB, along with three staff members from the event company responsible for organising the celebration. Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) officials named in the case are currently absconding.
Who is Nikhil Sosale and Why Was He Arrested?
Nikhil Sosale has been part of RCB’s core marketing team for several seasons. As per his LinkedIn profile, he leads the strategy, branding, and promotional campaigns of the franchise. Sosale has often been spotted in the stands during RCB matches and is reportedly close to former captain Virat Kohli. His association with the team is long-standing, and he played a big role in organising the post-IPL victory celebrations.
Police arrested him on June 4 for his alleged role in the poor planning of the parade. Officials claim that RCB tweeted about the event before getting police clearance, which led to an uncontrollable crowd gathering at the stadium.
Event Mismanagement Led to the Stampede
According to Bengaluru Police, the organisers made major mistakes in event coordination. The RCB social media account posted about the victory parade without any crowd control plan in place or police permission. The tweet quickly went viral, attracting lakhs of fans to the stadium, leading to a severe stampede.
When the organisers approached the police later for permission, it was already too late. There were no barricades, proper entry-exit points, or emergency measures set up. The situation spiralled out of control as fans pushed through the gates, resulting in deaths and injuries.
The Karnataka government has taken strict action against senior police officers as well, suspending them for their failure to prevent the disaster. Among them is Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayanand, who was removed for negligence.
Three Event Company Staff Also Arrested
Apart from Sosale, the police have arrested three staff members of DNA Entertainment Network Pvt Ltd—Kiran, Sumant, and Sunil Mathew. This company was in charge of handling the on-ground event arrangements. All three are being interrogated at the Cubbon Park Police Station, where the official FIR was filed.
The FIR names the company, RCB organisers, and KSCA as the main accused. It is also reported that the KSCA Secretary and Treasurer are on the run. Police visited their homes but found them missing.
Government and RCB Announce Compensation for Victims’ Families
The Karnataka government and RCB jointly announced a compensation of ₹10 lakh each to the families of those who lost their lives. Free medical treatment will be provided to all injured victims. Despite this, public anger is growing on social media, where both RCB and the state government are being heavily criticised.
People are questioning how such a large event was allowed without basic safety steps. Many have shared photos and videos of the stampede, showing just how poorly managed the entire situation was.
Political Pressure Mounts on Karnataka Government
The incident has sparked political drama as well. The BJP has openly demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar. They have blamed the government for allowing such an event without police clearance.
Reports also say that Shivakumar was taking photos with the RCB team inside the stadium when he was informed about the stampede. Critics argue that this shows the lack of seriousness from top state officials during a public safety crisis.
How RCB’s Unplanned Parade Sparked a Citywide Tragedy
This tragedy highlights the dangers of large gatherings without proper planning. After RCB tweeted about their “victory parade” in celebration of their IPL 2025 title, fans rushed to the stadium in massive numbers. With no crowd management, the excitement quickly turned into panic.
Police say that RCB failed to follow protocol by not consulting authorities before announcing the event publicly. The error has now resulted in not just arrests but also long-lasting damage to the team’s public image.
Disclaimer: This news post is based on early police reports and official statements. Investigations are still ongoing. The involvement of the arrested individuals will be determined by the court.
Source: Navbharat Times, India Times
