'Why do I need RCB? I don't even drink Royal Challenge': DK Shivakumar on buying IPL franchise
Bengaluru: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has dismissed speculation about his alleged interest in purchasing the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
Addressing the media, Shivakumar, who is also the president of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee, rejected the rumours in characteristically blunt fashion. “I am not a mad man. Why do I need RCB? I don’t even drink Royal Challenge,” news agency ANI quoted him as saying.
The Congress leader mentioned that although he had been a member of the Karnataka Cricket Association since his youth and received offers to join the franchise’s management, he simply does not have the time to get involved.
“Though I had offers to be part of the management, I don’t have time. My own educational institutions, I have resigned and left it to other members of the family to take care of it,” he added.
The rumours surfaced shortly after reports suggested that Diageo Plc, the British distiller and current owner of RCB through its Indian unit United Spirits Ltd, might be exploring the sale of part or all of the RCB franchise.
However, the rumours were ended in a mail to the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), with Mital Sanghvi, the company secretary, informing the regulating body of the Indian Stock Market, "The company would like to clarify that the aforesaid media reports are speculative in nature and it is not pursuing any such discussion. This is for your information and records."
Meanwhile, the Karnataka Congress government has been under fire from the opposition BJP and JD(S) following a tragic stampede outside M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4 during RCB’s IPL victory celebrations. The incident claimed eleven lives and has sparked widespread criticism over crowd management failures.
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Probe into Zubeen Garg's death ongoing, no foul play suspected yet: Singapore police
Singapore (PTI): Investigations into the death of singer Zubeen Garg are ongoing but so far no foul play is suspected, Singapore police have said.
Garg died under mysterious circumstances while swimming in the sea in Singapore on September 19.
The case is currently still being investigated by the Singapore Police Force (SPF), in accordance with the Singapore Coroners Act 2010, the police said on Thursday.
“Based on our investigations so far, the SPF does not suspect foul play in the death of Garg,” said the statement.
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Upon completion of the investigations, the findings will be submitted to the State Coroner in Singapore, who will hold a Coroner’s Inquiry (CI), currently scheduled for January and February 2026.
A CI is a fact-finding process led by the Coroner to establish the cause and circumstances of death. Its findings will be made public upon conclusion, said the SPF.
Singapore police are committed to conducting a thorough and professional investigation into the case, it said.
“We seek the patience and understanding of the parties involved. Meanwhile, we urge the public not to speculate and spread unverified information,” said SPF.
A Special Investigation Team probing Garg's death charged four accused, including the singer’s secretary Siddhartha Sharma and festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, with murder in a chargesheet filed in a court in India last week.
Garg was due to perform at the 4th Northeast India Festival at Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre on September 20.
