Chinnaswamy stampede: RCB marketing head tells Karnataka High Court arrests are selective, caused by CM pressure

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) marketing head Nikhil Sosale was selectively arrested in connection with the June 4 Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede, his counsel argued before the Karnataka High Court on Tuesday. .Senior Advocate Sandesh Chouta, who represented Sosale, questioned why his client and three others who were associated with event management company DNA were the only ones arrested in the case. Notably, DNA Vice-President Sunil Mathew, its Manager of Operations Kiran Kumar S and one Shamant NP Mavinakere have also filed petitions challenging their arrest. Chouta today argued that Shamant was not even an employee of DNA, but only a freelancer. .He claimed that these arrests were made only because of pressure exerted by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and not because the investigation required such arrests. Referring to the manner in which a first information report (FIR) filed in the case was drafted, Chouta said,"So anyone from DNA, RCB, KSCA can be arrested? What is their role? Nothing! Virtually ingredients of offence are not there!"He went on to question why the arrests stopped after the arrest of Sosale and others on June 6, when several State authorities too faced departmental action for possible lapses on their part. "Why cause this arrest, why is it selective? Your police officials suspended, intelligence chief is transferred, political advisor removed ...They should have called for investigation, not blatantly caused arrests!...Ultimately, (when it comes to mens rea) who had any intention to cause stampede? At best, in cases of this nature, question is who was negligent...RCB, DNA, KSCA, State - we all stand on the same footing. I don't know why were all fighting among ourselves," Chouta said. .Advocate General Shashi Kiran Shetty urged the Court to hear the matter further tomorrow as he needed time to make a response. He asserted that the State had answers to all of the questions raised by the petitioner."We are not in a position to argue today, I need time...Kindly grant time till tomorrow. Milords, my office has been working since 5 AM. I am not in a position to get ready fully. I need time," he said. Chouta urged that Sosale be given interim bail, in the meanwhile. "Please consider interim bail, if they (State) succeed, I (Sosale) will go back to jail," he said. However, the AG strongly opposed the suggestion. "I will put in black and white. I want time, kindly have it at 10.30 AM," he said. Justice SR Krishna Kumar agreed to the request and posted the case tomorrow to hear the State's reply..The Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede unfolded after a huge crowd of people gathered at the stadium on June 4 in hopes of meeting the RCB cricket team after their first Indian Premier League (IPL) victory in 18 years. Around 5 lakh people are said to have rushed to the stadium to take part in the event, although the stadium was meant to accommodate only around 33,000 people.11 people died and 56 were left injured in the ensuing stampede.While the State blamed the event organisers for holding the event without proper intimation to the State authorities, the organisers blamed the State authorities for not taking sufficient steps to manage the anticipated crowd. A criminal case was registered against officials of RCB, the event management company DNA and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), which makes decisions on renting out the stadium..During a court hearing yesterday, RCB's counsel, Senior Advocate CV Nagesh alleged that crowds had rushed to the stadium venue after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah invited everyone to take part in victory celebrations - a submission that was vehemently opposed by the State's counsel. The State countered that it was a tweet by RCB announcing free entry passes for the event, without due intimation to the State, which set of the chain of events that culminated in a stampede. .The High Court has also taken suo motu cognisance of the issue. This suo motu case was briefly heard today, when the State sought more time to file its response. The State claimed, before the Bench of Acting Chief Justice V Kameswar Rao and Justice CM Joshi, that those who were arrested in the case were misusing pleadings in the suo motu case to seek bail or to challenge their arrest. The Court eventually agreed to allow the State to place its status report in a sealed cover, before adjourning the suo motu case till June 12, Thursday.