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The Hindu
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Bengaluru stampede: Karnataka High Court orders release of RCB's Nikhil Sosale and others
In a major set back to the police and the State government, the High Court of Karnataka on June 12 ordered the release of four representatives of Royal Challengers Sports Private Limited (RCSPL) and DNA Networks Pvt. Ltd., who were arrested on the wee hours of June 6 in connection with the June 4 stampede outside M. Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru during the celebration of RCB's victory in IPL-2025 tournment. Justice S.R. Krishna Kumar passed the order while allowing the petitions filed by Nikhil Sosale, Head (Marketing and Revenue), RCSPL; Sunil Mathew, Director, and Kiran Kumar, Event Manager of DNA; and Shamant N.P. Mavinakere, a freelancer service provider for DNA. RCSPL is the owner of RCB cricket team and DNA is the event management firm for RCSPL. The Court has ordered their release on bail by imposing conditions. Copy of the order is yet to be released. 'Arrested on CM's orders' It was argued on behalf of the petitioners that they were arrested based solely on 'the orders of the Chief Minister [Siddaramaiah] to arrest the officials of RCB and others' and without conducting any investigation and collecting any material to point out that the petitioners were responsible for the stampede, which resulted in the death of 11 persons. They had also contended that they were arrested by the police, who had no jurisdiction either to investigate the cases registered in connection with the stampede or to arrest them. Meanwhile, the State government had defended their arrest claiming that the police adhered to all the procedures laid down in law and by the apex court while arresting the accused persons in a criminal case. However, the Government, either in its written statement or arguments, did not say anything on the court's query whether Chief Minister had stated at a media conference that he had ordered the arrest of officials of the RCB and others. The government, in its written statement, had merely stated that the contention of the petitioners, that their arrest was made solely on the Chief Minister's order, was not relevant for deciding the legality of their arrest.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Karnataka High Court to pronounce its verdict on June 12 on legality of arrest of RCB and DNA executives in stampede case
The High Court of Karnataka on Wednesday reserved its order on the petitions filed by four representatives of Royal Challengers Sports Pvt. Ltd. (RCSPL) and DNA Networks Pvt. Ltd., who have questioned the legality of their arrest in connection with the June 4 stampede outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in the city during the celebration of RCB's victory in IPL-2025 tournment. Justice S.R. Krishna Kumar, who heard the arguments on the petition, said he would pronounce the verdict on Thursday afternoon. The petitions were filed by Nikhil Sosale, head (Marketing and Revenue), RCSPL; Sunil Mathew, director, and Kiran Kumar, event manager of DNA; and Shamant N.P. Mavinakere, a freelancer with DNA. Earlier, State Advocate-General Shashi Kiran Shetty and Additional State Public Prosecutor B.N. Jagadeesha defended their arrest, claiming that the police adhered to all the procedures laid down in law and by the apex court while arresting them. 'No permission' Mr. Shetty said these four persons were among others connected with the RCSPL and DNA, who were responsible for making social media posts inviting cricket fans to come to the stadium for the victory celebrations, even though there was no permission to organise the event at the stadium. Also, the A-G said that neither the Karnataka State Cricket Association nor the RCSPL had sought permission under the provisions of the Licensing and Controlling of Assemblies and Processions (Bangalore city) Order, 2008, notified in 2009, for the event. The communications sent by the KSCA or others were only a mere intimation of the possible victory celebrations and no formal application, the A-G said while contending that in any case, the police had not granted permission to the victory celebrations held in the stadium, and hence it was illegal and punishable in law. Holding of illegal event led to the death of 11 persons in the stampede as the RSCPL had failed to manage the crowd, Mr. Shetty contended. On CM and Dy. CM While the A-G did not say anything on the court's query whether Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had stated at a media conference that he had ordered the arrest of officials of the RCB and others, the written statement filed by the police stated that contention of the petitioners, that their arrest was solely made on the Chief Minister's order, was not relevant for deciding the legality of their arrest. On the petitioners' claim that Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had participated in the celebrations in the stadium, the A-G said he was only an invitee and it was was the RCSPL which held the event without permission.
United News of India
4 days ago
- Sport
- United News of India
RCB cites CM's public invite in plea to quash stampede FIR
Bengaluru, June 9 (UNI) A public tweet by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah inviting "all citizens" to join the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) IPL victory celebrations has come under sharp scrutiny, with Royal Challengers Sports Private Limited (RCSPL) citing it in a petition before the Karnataka High Court to quash an FIR registered against them in connection with the Bengaluru stampede. The X post, which forms a key part of RCSPL's defence, is being portrayed as a direct endorsement by the state's highest authority for mass participation in the event that ended in tragedy. The petition argues that this public call by the Chief Minister mirrors RCB's own social media invitation, yet only private organisers have been targeted in the criminal case. RCSPL and its COO Rajesh V Menon, on Monday, contended in court that they made the announcement for the victory parade and trophy celebration only after extensive discussions with DNA Networks, Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), and the police, followed by oral approval. The post, shared on June 4 across RCB's official handles, made it clear that entry was strictly through prior registration and valid passes based on stadium capacity. The plea further reveals that on the morning of June 4, RCB was abruptly informed that police had withdrawn permission for the victory parade. At the same time, the team was told that the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister would be felicitating the players at the Vidhana Soudha, and the team could proceed to the stadium for celebrations thereafter. According to the plea, the felicitation at the Vidhana Soudha was not only attended by the RCB team but was also thrown open to the general public at the Chief Minister's own invitation, now reproduced in court as a crucial piece of evidence. The RCSPL petition asserts that following the Vidhana Soudha event, the team reached the stadium, where celebrations were abruptly called off after the management was informed about fatalities due to a stampede outside the venue. The company has called the FIR against it "illegal," "contrary to law," and "an abuse of process," stressing the absence of any mens rea (criminal intent) or criminal act on its part. "The very same act of inviting the public to a celebration was committed by the Chief Minister," the plea states, arguing that scapegoating RCB while sparing state functionaries smacks of bias. The petition accuses the government of attempting to shift blame to private entities like RCSPL, especially in the wake of the Chief Minister's own public directive to "immediately arrest" RCB officials. even as an official inquiry into the incident and suspensions of police personnel for dereliction of duty were ongoing. RCSPL also highlights that the entire event was outsourced to DNA Networks, yet RCB has still been named as an accused. The company is seeking quashing of the FIR and an interim stay on further proceedings. Meanwhile, the High Court has already granted interim protection to officials of the Karnataka State Cricket Association. Nikhil Sosale, RCB's Marketing and Revenue Head, has also moved court challenging his arrest in the case. The case is fast snowballing into a legal and political flashpoint, with mounting pressure on the Chief Minister to explain his role in endorsing the event that ended in tragedy. UNI BDN PRS
