In a significant development, the Karnataka High Court on Wednesday granted relief to Nikhil Sosale, Marketing Head of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) franchise, by relaxing his bail condition that barred him from leaving Bengaluru. The decision comes just weeks ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction, which is expected to take place in Abu Dhabi.
Sosale, who was arrested on June 6 in connection with the Bengaluru stampede case, was released on bail six days later with a condition that he must not leave the city. He later sought relaxation of this condition, citing professional commitments that require frequent travel across India.
Senior Advocate Sandesh J Chouta, appearing for Sosale, informed the court that a similar restriction had already been relaxed for other accused, including DNA Entertainment Networks Pvt Ltd and the Karnataka State Cricket Association.
After reviewing the records, the High Court observed that Sosale’s job demands travel for marketing and promotional activities and allowed his plea with certain safeguards. The court stated, “As undertaking is given that the petitioner will provide all relevant details to the investigating officer before travelling, the condition is relaxed subject to the petitioner informing the investigating officer before leaving the city and upon his return.”
However, the condition requiring Sosale to surrender his passport remains unchanged, which means he cannot travel abroad until further orders.
The relaxation comes ahead of the much-anticipated IPL 2026 mini auction, which, according to PTI reports, will be held in Abu Dhabi on either December 15 or 16. This marks the third consecutive year the IPL auction is being hosted outside India—following Dubai (2023) and Jeddah (2024).
Disclaimer: The information provided is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal or investment advice.
