South Africa tour of India 2019
RCB Stampede: Nikhil Sosale Granted Bail Amidst Public Outrage
Nikhil Sosale, Head of Marketing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), was granted interim bail by the Karnataka High Court after being arrested in connection with the June 4 stampede that killed 11 fans. The incident occurred during RCB’s IPL victory celebration at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, which reportedly lacked proper permissions and safety measures.
Sosale and two senior officials from DNA Entertainment Networks were taken into custody, sparking debate over accountability in large public events. His legal team claimed political motivation behind the arrests, alleging interference by the Karnataka government.
The court allowed bail under strict conditions, including passport surrender, noting the need for a fair investigation before custodial detention. Bengaluru police maintain that RCB had no approval to host the celebration. The tragic event was marked by overcrowding, mismanagement, and lack of crowd control.
The fallout has been severe. KSCA officials, including the treasurer and secretary, resigned citing moral responsibility. RCB, however, has maintained silence beyond an initial apology, prompting backlash from fans demanding transparency.
Parent company Diageo may launch an internal inquiry into the conduct of its executives. The tragedy highlights deeper flaws in India’s event safety protocols, with calls growing for clearer coordination among sports franchises, local authorities, and security agencies.
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