In a shocking turn of events following the deadly stampede outside Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium, police have taken senior officials from Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and the event management firm DNA Entertainment Pvt Ltd into custody. The tragedy claimed 11 lives and left over 50 injured, igniting a firestorm of criticism over mismanagement and negligence.
Among those being questioned are Nikhil Sosale, Head of Marketing and Revenue at RCB, along with Sunil Mathew and Kiran Kumar from DNA Entertainment. Police sources confirmed the detentions on Friday, as pressure mounts to hold those responsible accountable.
The arrests come in the wake of a strong directive from Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who on Thursday instructed the state’s Director General of Police (DGP) and Inspector General of Police (IGP) to immediately arrest representatives of RCB, DNA Entertainment, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA). An FIR has already been registered in connection with the incident.
Siddaramaiah cited “irresponsibility” and “gross carelessness” as the primary causes of the stampede, calling the deaths a preventable disaster. The chaos reportedly erupted due to overcrowding and poor crowd control measures during ticket distribution for an RCB match, exposing serious lapses in event coordination and safety protocols.
The incident has sparked public outrage, with many demanding stricter regulations for large-scale events and swift action against those found guilty of negligence. As investigations continue, the spotlight remains firmly on the role of the cricket franchise and its event partners in what is now being dubbed one of Bengaluru’s worst sports-related tragedies.
