Bengaluru stampede: Karnataka cops nab top RCB executive, events team after Siddaramaiah orders probe

After Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah cautioned of stern action, police nabbed a top executive of Royal Challengers Bengaluru and members of the events team in connection with the Bengaluru stampede case on Friday. As many as 11 persons died and 33 persons suffered injuries in the tragic stampede on Wednesday.

As per reports, Bengaluru police arrested Nikhil Sosale, marketing head of RCB. Sosale was reportedly arrested from the Bengaluru airport, while he was about to board a flight to Mumbai. Police also arrested three members of the events team that organised the victory celebrations in Bengaluru after RCB won the Indian Premier League this season.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday warned stern action would be taken in the case. He also suspended top officials of Bengaluru police, including Bengaluru City Police Commissioner S. Dayanand, Additional Commissioner of Police in charge of the stadium, Central DCP, ACP of the area and the police inspector from the Cubbon Park police station. The state government has also formed a judicial commission to probe the stampede.

Bengaluru police have registered an FIR against the RCB franchise, DNA – event management company and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) under charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. The FIR has been registered invoking sections 105, 125(1)(2), 132, 121/1, and 190 read with 3(5) of relevant legal provisions (creating public nuisance, criminal conduct and abetment to commission of a crime). Siddaramaiah on Thursday ordered a probe against RCB, the events company and the arrest of their top executives.

A stampede broke out outside Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru on Wednesday after a huge crowd gathered there for RCB's victory celebrations. The stampede allegedly occurred when crowd tried to enter the stadium through its small gates.