The High Court of Karnataka will hear the petition filed by Nikhil Sosale, Head (Marketing and Revenue) of Royal Challengers Sports Private Limited (RCSPL) that owns Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), on June 9 against his arrest in connection with the stampede outside M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4.
A criminal case has been registered against Nikhil in connection with the stampede incident.
While hearing the petition on Friday, Justice S.R. Krishna Kumar directed the police to file their response by June 9 and scheduled further hearing on the said date.
Nikhil was arrested by the police at Kempegowda International Airport around 4.30 a.m. on June 6 when he was on his way to Mumbai along with his wife and child.
It has been contended in Nikhil’s petition that he was arrested without ascertaining the role of any person within the RCSPL, as the FIR does not mention the name of the RCSPL but only mentions the RCB franchise, indicating that the police were not even aware of who is who in the organisation.
Further, the petitioner has alleged that the arrest was done merely based on the “oral directions issued by the Chief Minister (CM) to immediately arrest the RCB executives” while pointing out that the media had reported such a direction given by the CM.
After HC took cognisance
Also, it has been highlighted in the petition that an FIR was registered around 11.15 a.m. on June 5 after the High Court of Karnataka took suo motu cognisance of the stampede around 10.40 a.m., asking for details of the incident and a report from the State Advocate General.
It was argued on his behalf that the police inspector, on whose complaint the FIR was registered, himself was suspended by the government on June 5 night and the petitioner was arrested by a police officer who was not having the jurisdiction to arrest him as the probe of the case was transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
Published – June 06, 2025 08:46 pm IST
