Stampede: RCB Market Head, Event Organiser Held
Two more people were also taken into custody on allegations of involvement in the case, the police said
Four officials of RCB and event management firm DNA Entertainment Private Limited were arrested on Friday in connection with Wednesday’s stampede even as heads continued to roll in the administration.
The Karnataka government “relieved” MLC K. Govindaraj as political secretary to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and shunted out additional director general of police (ADGP), Intelligence, Hemant Nimbalkar.
Meanwhile, a complaint was filed by social activist H.M. Venkatesh against cricketer Virat Kohli, holding him responsible for the stampede during the celebrations of RCB's first ever IPL victory on June 4. However, no FIR has been registered on his complaint yet, police sources said.
Earlier, the 41st Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate remanded Nikhil Sosale (head of marketing and revenue) of RCB and Sunil Mathew (vice-president, business affairs), Kiran Kumar (senior event manager) and Sumanth (ticketing operations lead) from DNA Entertainment Private Limited to 14-day judicial custody.
Speaking to PTI, Bengaluru police commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh confirmed that few arrests have been made over the stampede case.
“Our teams are taking the case very seriously, and ultimately the case has to go to CID. So before going to CID, whatever legal formalities have to be done by our team, they are doing it,” he said.
Meanwhile, another FIR was registered against RCB, DNA Entertainment Private Limited and Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) based on the complaint of a victim in the stampede incident.
Earlier in the day, Sosale, who was taken into custody from the Kempegowda International Airport, had moved the High Court challenging his arrest. He did not get immediate relief and the case was adjourned to June 9.
The RCB and event management officials were nabbed in a joint operation by the crime branch and Bengaluru Police. After medical examination, they were produced before the court amid tight security.
Police action followed the FIR registered on June 5 against RCB, DNA Entertainment Private Limited and KSCA.
On Thursday, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddarmaiah instructed the DGP and IGP of the state to immediately arrest the representatives of RCB and DNA event managers and KSCA for the stampede, as prima facie there was “irresponsibility” and “carelessness” on their part.
The stampede occurred on Wednesday evening in front of the stadium, where a large number of people thronged to participate in the RCB team's IPL victory celebrations.