Bengaluru Police on Friday arrested Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Marketing Head Nikhil Sosale, along with three officials from DNA Event Management, in connection with the tragic stampede near the M Chinnaswamy Stadium that claimed 11 lives. Sosale, along with Sunil Mathew, Kiran Kumar, and Sumanth from DNA Event Management, was detained in a joint operation at Bengaluru International Airport while they were reportedly heading to Mumbai. The police confirmed that the four individuals have been taken to Cubbon Park Police Station for questioning. According to investigators, the incident is linked to a social media post made by Sosale, despite authorities having denied permission for the IPL victory parade. Sosale allegedly posted about a celebration event and later deleted the message. He also announced that free tickets would be distributed at the stadium, which led to a huge crowd gathering. Who Is Nikhil Sosale? As per his LinkedIn profile, Nikhil Sosale is a marketing and revenue professional with over 15 years of experience in the sports and beverage industries. He is currently the Head of Marketing and Revenue for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), a role he has held since September 2023 at Diageo India. Sosale is based in Bengaluru and has been associated with Diageo for over 13 years, reportedly working closely with the RCB franchise throughout his tenure. Previously, Sosale also held the position of Head of Business Partnerships at RCB. He holds a double major degree from James Cook University in Queensland, Australia. Sosale’s Role In Bengaluru Stampede According to police, despite not having the required permission from city authorities, Sosale allegedly went ahead and promoted the RCB victory parade on social media. The post, which was later deleted, also included details about free ticket distribution. He reportedly stated that tickets would be available at stadium Gate Nos. 9 and 10 from 1 p.m. on Wednesday. No proper arrangements were made for distribution, leading to overcrowding. The RCB’s official handle also posted that entry to the event would begin at 3 p.m., which reportedly triggered a massive turnout. Police say that around three lakh people gathered near the stadium, overwhelming the available space and security. Furthermore, the DNA Event Management staff allegedly acted under Sosale’s instructions. Of the 21 available gates at the venue, only three were opened, which contributed to the crowding and eventual stampede. The stampede occurred outside the stadium on Wednesday as nearly 3 lakh people rushed to attend the RCB victory celebration after the team’s Indian Premier League (IPL) win. Limited access points and a lack of proper arrangements worsened the situation, leading to chaos and fatalities. Ties With Virat Kohli And Anushka Sharma Nikhil Sosale is said to share a close personal connection with RCB star Virat Kohli and his wife, actor Anushka Sharma. Sosale has been seen with Sharma in the RCB private boxes during IPL matches, and is also followed by Kohli on Instagram. Sosale’s wife, Malvika Nayak, is reported to be a longtime friend of Anushka Sharma. Several pictures and videos have surfaced on social media showing the two women together at RCB matches, often seen chatting or cheering for the team side by side. Their appearances together have drawn significant attention on social media. (With inputs from agencies)