India vs West Indies T20I free passes sold for Rs 6,000, HCA member among 4 arrested

Hyderabad Police have arrested four people, including a Hyderabad Cricket Association member, for allegedly selling complimentary passes for the India-West Indies fourth T20I at inflated prices. The probe has also raised questions about the distribution of tickets marked "NOT FOR SALE".

In Short

• Eleven 'NOT FOR SALE' passes seized before India-West Indies match in Uppal
• Tickets sold at Rs 3,500 to Rs 6,000 via WhatsApp and Instagram
• Police warn fans to buy tickets only from authorised sources

Hyderabad Police have arrested a member of the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) and three others for allegedly black-marketing complimentary tickets for the fourth India-West Indies T20I. The police seized 11 match passes marked “NOT FOR SALE” ahead of Wednesday’s match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Uppal.

The accused have been identified as HCA member Satish Chandra Srivastava, his son Akarshit Srivastava, Avinash Darak and Mohit Somani. The case came to light after Goshamahal Police received information about the alleged sale of tickets near SD Mall in Begum Bazar on October 12.

INDIA VS WEST INDIES, 4TH T20I: PREVIEW

A police team led by Assistant Sub-Inspector V Janardhan Naik apprehended Darak and Somani at around 9 pm. Besides the cricket passes, officers seized eight passes for a Navratri Dandiya event, Rs 5,000 in cash, mobile phones and a two-wheeler.

TICKETS ALLEGEDLY SOLD FOR RS 6,000

According to the police, Darak and Somani allegedly disclosed during questioning that they had obtained the complimentary tickets from Akarshit and were advertising them on WhatsApp and Instagram at inflated prices.

Goshamahal Inspector B Sravan Kumar said the tickets were allegedly being sold for Rs 3,500 to Rs 6,000 each, depending on the pavilion. Akarshit allegedly procured the passes from his father, an HCA member, before handing them to Darak for sale with Somani’s assistance.

The inspector also said the accused had allegedly sold around nine complimentary tickets. Police will write to the HCA to establish how many passes were issued to Satish Chandra Srivastava.

POLICE WARN FANS AGAINST BLACK-MARKETING

The four accused were arrested on October 13 and remanded to judicial custody. Police registered a case under Sections 112(1) and 318(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 21(gg) of the City Police Act. The investigation is ongoing.

Police have urged fans to purchase match tickets only through authorised channels and report suspected black-marketing. They also warned that buying or selling complimentary passes marked “NOT FOR SALE” could invite legal action.

The arrests come ahead of the fourth T20I, with India leading the five-match series 2-1. A win in Hyderabad would give the hosts an unassailable lead, while the West Indies will aim to level the series before Saturday’s final match in Bengaluru.

- Ends