Nikhil Sosale is currently in the spotlight following his arrest in connection with the recent stampede in Bengaluru during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) IPL victory celebrations. Sosale serves as the Head of Marketing and Revenue for RCB at Diageo India.
Sosale was taken into custody at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on Friday, June 6, 2025, while reportedly attempting to board a flight to Mumbai. The arrest follows a tragic stampede outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, which resulted in 11 fatalities and numerous injuries as fans gathered to celebrate RCB's first-ever IPL title.
The Karnataka Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, ordered the arrest of representatives from RCB, the event management firm DNA Entertainment Private Limited, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) after a First Information Report (FIR) was filed against them. The charges include culpable homicide not amounting to murder, among others. In addition to Sosale, three staff members from DNA Entertainment Networks Pvt. Ltd. have also been detained for questioning.
Nikhil Sosale's professional journey with RCB spans over a decade. Born on August 18, 1986, he has steadily risen through the ranks, holding various key positions within the organization. According to his LinkedIn profile, Sosale leads the design, strategy, and delivery of business and marketing initiatives for RCB. He holds a double major in Business from James Cook University, earned between 2008 and 2010.
Before his current role, Sosale held positions such as Senior Executive – UB Sports Marketing (2010 – June 2012), Manager – Commercial & Operations (2012 – 2014), Senior Manager – Commercial, Marketing, Operations (2014 – 2016), Lead – Business & Commercial Operations (2016 – 2017), and Head of Business Partnerships (2017 – 2023).
Sosale's involvement with RCB extends to managing the team's public relations and brand marketing. He has been instrumental in forging business partnerships, including a recent collaboration between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Qatar Airways.
Outside of his professional life, Nikhil Sosale is married to Malvika Nayak, who leads business development and partnerships at Innoz Technologies Pvt. Ltd. Sosale and his wife are known to be close with Indian celebrity couple Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma, and have been spotted together at various events.
The police investigation is ongoing, with Sosale and other arrested individuals expected to be handed over to the Crime Investigation Department. The Karnataka government has formed a one-man judicial commission, headed by retired High Court judge Justice Michael D'Cunha, to investigate the incident and submit a report within 30 days. The state cabinet has also ordered a CID probe. The Karnataka High Court has taken suo motu cognisance of the incident, seeking detailed answers from the government regarding crowd control measures and the events leading to the stampede.
