The Bengaluru Police have arrested Nikhil Sosale, marketing head of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), in connection with the fatal stampede outside M Chinnaswamy Stadium on 4 June. Sosale was taken into custody at Bengaluru airport while attempting to board a flight to Mumbai.
In a separate development, three officials from DNA Entertainment Networks Pvt Ltd, the organisers of the IPL victory celebrations, were also detained for questioning. The investigation is underway at Cubbon Park Police Station, where the FIR was registered. Along with RCB and DNA Entertainment Networks, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has also been named in the FIR.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah ordered the arrests following the tragedy which claimed 11 lives. He also announced the suspension of several senior police officers, including Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda, Additional Commissioner (West) Vikash Kumar Vikash, and DCP (Central) Shekhar H Tekkannavar, citing “prima facie negligence” in crowd control.
Also read: Will cooperate with govt, judicial authorities: RCB
Addressing a press conference, Siddaramaiah said, “A preliminary inquiry had found several senior police officers prima facie negligent in discharging their duties.” He further announced the setting up of a judicial commission headed by retired Karnataka High Court judge Justice John Michael D’Cunha, alongside a parallel CID investigation into the roles of RCB, KSCA, and DNA Entertainment Networks.
The Chief Minister added, “The CID will examine the roles of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), and event management firm DNA Entertainment Networks in the tragedy.”
The tragedy occurred when nearly 2.5 lakh people thronged the stadium to catch a glimpse of RCB cricketers after their maiden IPL trophy victory. The resultant chaos led to the death of 11 people, besides leaving several others injured on Wednesday.
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