The Karnataka High Court on Thursday ordered the interim release of Royal Challengers Bengaluru marketing head Nikhil Sosale and three others from DNA Entertainment Networks Private in connection with the Bengaluru stampede near Chinnaswamy stadium on June 4. Justice SR Krishna Kumar directed the release of Sosale, Sunil Mathew, Kiran Kumar S, and Shamant N P Mavinakere from judicial custody with the condition to surrender their passports.The stampede occurred during RCB’s 2025 IPL victory celebration parade. The accused had filed pleas challenging their arrests, which the court heard on Wednesday before reserving its verdict.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Senior advocate Sandesh Chouta, representing Sosale, argued that police cannot target employees when entities are shown in the FIR, stating there can be no vicarious liability.Advocate General Shashi Kiran Shetty, appearing for the State, presented that RCB had not obtained proper permissions for the victory parade. The announcement was made on RCB’s social media account and later deleted.
“They only gave us an intimation letter about the event they had planned on RCB winning. It is against the rules. Intimation was made by KSCA (Karnataka State Cricket Association) on June 3, at 6.30 pm. Announcement made by RCB at 11.30 pm on June 3 after victory.”The Advocate General detailed RCB’s social media activities on June 4, starting with a 7:01 am post about the victory parade from Vidhan Soudha to Chinnaswamy Stadium.“They have over 28 lakh followers’ milords. They have invited the whole world but no permission is given. At 8am again another tweet was made by RCB calling supporters to cheer. No information regarding tickets was given. Another tweet was posted at 8.55 am, a video. Even this does not provide information about who could participate in the stadium. These facts are suppressed before lordships in the petitions. They have come to court with unclean hands, showing as if programme is done by State govt. It was RCB’s function.”
The State argued that Sosale attempted to flee, purchasing air tickets at 10:56 pm for a morning flight. He was arrested at 4:30 am on June 6.“At 10.56 pm the air tickets was purchased by (Nikhil Sosale) and the flight was in the morning. The fact that he was fleeing away is undisputed milord. It is not that we have arrested him while eating dinner or sleeping. Now they are finding fault with investigation.”Regarding the other accused, the AG stated that two were apprehended near Hoskote. The prosecution maintained that all required documents were provided to the accused, though there was discussion about the timing of the arrest documentation.
