Bangalore stampede case: RCB’s marketing head and 3 others arrested

Three event organisers and RCB marketing head Nikhil Sosale have been arrested by Bengaluru police in connection to the stampede that claimed 11 lives.

Bangalore stampede case: RCB’s marketing head and 3 others arrested

New Delhi (India) June 6: Four people have been taken into custody in relation to the stampede outside Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy Stadium, which killed eleven people. The incident took place during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) team's first-ever IPL win celebrations.

Police claim that one of the people detained was Nikhil Sosale, a senior RCB marketing official. Around 6.30 am, he was caught at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport when he was on his way to Mumbai.

The remaining individuals that were arrested were Sumanth, Kiran and Sunil Mathew. Sunil Mathew is the vice president of DNA Entertainment Private Limited, an event management business that manages IPL events.

Investigations are also underway to find the two Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) officials who are missing: treasurer Jayram and secretary Shankar. According to officials they weren't found at their homes when the police went to arrest them.

The stampede took place outside the stadium on Wednesday night, when a huge crowd gathered to take part in the celebrations of RCB's win. The incident resulted in almost 60 injuries.

CM Siddaramaiah has suspended B Dayananda, the commissioner of police in Bengaluru and a number of other high-ranking police officers on Thursday in relation to the incident.

The arrests were made hours after a First Information Report (FIR) was filed under several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder. 

According to police, the arrests were made during a nighttime operation conducted by the Central Crime Branch, which was led by Deputy Commissioner of Police Akshay. Today, the accused will probably be handed over to the Crime Investigation Department.

According to the FIR, the RCB franchise invited people to the event by announcing the program on social media without the proper authority's consent.

Interrogation was taking place at the Cubbon Park Police Station, where the FIR for the stampede was filed. The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) and RCB, the event management business, were named as the culprits.

The BJP has demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar, accusing the Karnataka administration of failure and negligence that caused the stampede. 

Aadrika Tayal