Nikhil Sosale, the Head of Marketing and Revenue at Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), has been arrested by Bengaluru Police in connection with the tragic stampede that occurred outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium during RCB’s IPL 2025 victory celebrations. The incident resulted in 11 deaths and 33 injuries.
Sosale was reportedly detained at the Bengaluru airport while attempting to fly to Mumbai. He wasn’t the only one arrested — Sunil Mathew from DNA Entertainment Networks Pvt. Ltd. and three of the company’s staff members have also been taken into custody.
Who is Nikhil Sosale?
Nikhil Sosale is a senior marketing executive at Diageo India, responsible for RCB’s business, brand strategy, and marketing campaigns. He has been part of the RCB setup for years and is considered a key figure behind the franchise’s commercial success.
According to his LinkedIn profile:
- He holds a Double Major in Business from James Cook University (2008–2010).
- He has led marketing efforts that involve strategic planning, brand partnerships, and fan engagement programs.
Sosale is also known to have a close personal relationship with Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma, often spotted with them during matches.
He is married to Malvika Nayak, who leads business development at Innoz Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
What Happened During the Bengaluru Stampede?
On June 4, RCB held a victory parade to celebrate their first-ever IPL title. Initially denied permission, the parade was later confirmed on RCB’s social media around 3 PM. As massive crowds gathered between Vidhana Soudha and the Chinnaswamy Stadium, the situation spiraled out of control due to poor crowd management and lack of security.
The tragic result:
- 11 lives lost
- 33 people injured
- RCB, DNA Networks, and KSCA officials held accountable
Following mounting criticism, RCB cut short the celebration and later announced financial compensation for victims’ families under a new initiative titled ‘RCB Cares’.
Ongoing Investigation and Legal Action
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah has ordered arrests of top officials involved. Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda has been suspended, and a judicial commission led by retired Justice Michael D’Cunha will investigate the matter. The report is expected within 30 days.
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