Bengaluru stampede: Why suspended cops not arrested, asks RCB official in Karnataka HC

Bengaluru: The advocate representing counsel Nikhil Sosale, Marketing Head of Royal Challengers Sports Private Limited (RCSPL) on Tuesday posed a query as to why the police officers suspended for dereliction of duty were not arrested in connection with the M Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede.

Nikhil Sosale was arrested on June 5, 2025 in connection with the stampede that claimed 11 lives. The matter has been adjourned to Wednesday for Advocate General’s submission.

The court was hearing the petition filed by Nikhil Sosale challenging his arrest.

At the hearing, senior advocate Sandesh Chouta said, “After the suspension of five police officers, why is there no arrest? After the political advisor was removed, why was there no arrest? Why is there no arrest of the intelligence officer who also was suspended?”

He said that as per the recent apex court judgement, an arrest, if deemed illegal, cannot continue even for a single minute.

The advocate reiterated the grounds to submit that the arrest carried out by the Central Crime Branch (CCB), in a FIR registered by the Cubbon Park police, is illegal on multiple grounds.

He said that there is no document submitted explaining as to who authorized the CCB to carry out the arrest when the case was transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). He further said that the remand application does not mention any of these details, while urging the court to pass orders for the immediate release of Nikhil Sosale.

He said that one of the accused, Shamanth, was arrested from his house at 3 am on June 5 by the Ashok Nagar police. He said Shamanth is a freelancer and has got nothing to do with DNA Entertainment Networks, the event management company. Sandesh Chouta said that while power to arrest is one thing, the exercise of such power is another thing.

“What is the basis on which they arrested me (Nikhil Sosale) and three employees of DNA? What do they have to do with the stampede incident? Accused no 1 is the marketing head of RCB (Nikhil Sosale). Sunil Mathew is the Vice president of DNA and Kiran Kumar is the manager of operations of DNA. And, Shamant is a freelancer who has got nothing to do with DNA. Nobody is named in the FIR,” he said.

Meanwhile, Advocate General K Shashikiran Shetty submitted that he would make his submissions on Wednesday morning. He said the reply is being prepared and a detailed statement will be filed. Justice S R Krishna Kumar adjourned the hearing to Wednesday morning.