Nikhil Sosale, Head of Marketing and Revenue at Royal Challengers Sports Ltd, has approached the Karnataka High Court challenging his arrest in connection with the Bengaluru stampede that occurred during RCB’s IPL victory celebration at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, resulting in 11 deaths and 75 injuries.
In a petition filed before the court, Sosale described his arrest as “arbitrary, illegal, and politically motivated”, alleging that it was ordered orally by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah following a late-night cabinet meeting. The arrest came just hours after the High Court took suo motu cognisance of the tragedy and demanded accountability from state authorities.
Allegations of Political Pressure
Sosale’s legal team argued that his arrest was a knee-jerk reaction intended to deflect blame onto RCB’s management, even though investigations had yet to establish individual responsibility. “Arrest is the prerogative of the investigating officer and cannot be done on political instructions,” his counsel stated, arguing the arrest violated his constitutional rights under Article 19, which protects personal liberty.
They also pointed out that the FIR was registered by Inspector AK Girisha, who has since been suspended, raising concerns over procedural lapses and the validity of the arrest.
State’s Response
The state government, represented by Advocate General Shashikiran Shetty, defended the move, claiming Sosale was detained while allegedly trying to leave the country—a claim that his legal team has not publicly responded to.
The High Court bench, led by Justice S.R. Krishna Kumar, adjourned the matter to June 9, stating that interim relief would be considered once the state files its objections.
The case continues to raise questions around accountability, due process, and political influence, as public anger simmers over one of Bengaluru’s deadliest stadium disasters in recent memory.
