Allegations of Selling RCB Dismissed by Indian Politician; Denies Purchasing IPL Team
Spilling the Beans on RCB: Rumors, Refutations, and the Rise of the IPL Champs
Cricket's most dashing squad, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), has been making headlines for all the right reasons lately. But let's clear the air about those sale rumors that've been swirling.
The whirlwind of speculation around RCB's potential sale has sent shockwaves through the cricket and business communities. Yet, both the team's parent company, Diageo India, and Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar have firmly shut down these claims.
On a revealing chat with ANI, Shivakumar offhandedly debunked the speculations that he had acquired the RCB franchise. In true-blue Shivakumar's words, "I'm no cuckoo! I’ve received offers to join the management team, but I've got better things going on."
Contrary to popular belief, the Deputy Chief Minister doesn't even quench his thirst with Royal Challenge, the team’s spirits brand.
Diageo India, the Indian arm of the globetrotting beverage giant Diageo Plc, echoed Shivakumar's sentiments and took a firm stance on the matter, issuing an official statement to the Bombay Stock Exchange. Mital Sanghvi, the company's secretary, unambiguously clarified that the media reports regarding a sale of RCB were merely speculative and that no such discussions were being facilitated[1][2].
Meanwhile, the recent victory parade for RCB's triumph in the Indian Premier League (IPL) was marred by a stampede that left 11 lives claimed. Investigations are underway, with top police officials at Cubbon Park Police Station temporarily suspended and a one-man commission formed under a retired High Court Judge to look into the matter[5].
While the BJP demanded Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's resignation over the Bengaluru stampede, he retorted with a sharp trebuchet, reminding the BJP of their inaction toward stampede casualties in other parts of the country. Siddaramaiah questioned the hypocrisy, pointing out the lack of demands for Yogi Adityanath's resignation following the Prayagraj Kumbh Mela stampede earlier this year[6].
A hearing in connection with the Bengaluru stampede took place in the Karnataka High Court, with RCB's marketing head Nikhil Sosale seeking interim relief. The court reserved the order for June 12 at 2:30 pm[7].
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ASIDE:
- Learn about the heartbreaking tragedy surrounding RCB’s IPL victory: India: Kohli 'absolutely gutted' after 11 die in stampede during RCB's IPL victory parade
- RCB pledged financial aid to the victims: India: RCB pledge Rs1 million for victims who died in stampede
- Unravel the mystery behind the Bengaluru stampede tragedy: Explained: How RCB's IPL victory parade in Bengaluru turned into a regrettable tragedy
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Insider
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru is owned by Diageo Plc through United Spirits Ltd. Diageo acquired the team when it took ownership of United Spirits in 2012[3][4].
- There have been media reports and speculation about a potential sale, mainly due to the franchise's increased valuation following its first IPL title and a Bloomberg report[3]. However, no sale is confirmed or underway as of June 2025[1][3][4].
- The recent spike in discussions about the sale of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has extended beyond cricket and business circles, also piquing the interest of general news outlets covering crime and justice.
- The routing of the RCB's victory parade was not without incident, as an unfortunate stampede led to 11 fatalities, drawing scrutiny from news sources covering sports, accidents, and news in the broader sense.
- Despite the swirling rumors of the state government's involvement in acquiring the RCB franchise, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar clarified on a TV interview that he has not joined the team's management and keeps a safe distance from the spirits brand associated with the team.
- As the Indian Premier League (IPL) gears up for new seasons, businesses are turning their focus to advertising opportunities with sports teams, including those like RCB that are drawing increased attention in the areas of politics, business, and entertainment.
