Hyderabad Police Arrest 4 for T20I Ticket Black Marketing
Four people were arrested in Hyderabad for illegally selling India vs West Indies T20I complimentary tickets at inflated prices on social media.
The Hyderabad Police have busted a black-marketing ring involved in the illegal sale of complimentary tickets for the high-stakes fourth T20 International between India and the West Indies. Four individuals were taken into custody following an operation that uncovered a scheme to sell match passes, specifically marked “NOT FOR SALE”, at exorbitant prices on social media.
The Sting Operation in Begum Bazar
The crackdown began after Assistant Sub-Inspector V Janardhan Naik received intelligence regarding the illicit sale of tickets near SD Mall in the Begum Bazar area. Acting on this information, Naik and Constable G Sai Kumar conducted a patrol on the night of October 12. Around 9:00 PM, the officers intercepted and apprehended two suspects, 24-year-old Avinash Darak and 30-year-old Mohit Somani.
During the search, the police seized several items from the duo, including:
- 11 complimentary cricket match passes marked “NOT FOR SALE”
- Eight passes for a Navratri event
- ₹5,000 in cash
- Four mobile phones
- A two-wheeler scooter
The Connection to Cricket Association Members
Initial interrogations revealed a sophisticated network used to distribute the tickets. Darak allegedly confessed that the cricket tickets were obtained through an individual named Akarshit Srivastava. The investigation further traced the source of these complimentary passes to Akarshit’s father, Satish Chandra Srivastava, who is a member of the Hyderabad Cricket Association at the Uppal Cricket Stadium.
The group reportedly used social media platforms to advertise the availability of these restricted tickets. With the help of Somani, Darak would identify interested buyers online and facilitate transactions at highly inflated rates, bypassing official channels.
Legal Action and Police Warning
On October 13, the Goshamahal Police arrested all four suspects—Akarshit Srivastava, Avinash Darak, Mohit Somani, and Satish Chandra Srivastava—and remanded them to judicial custody. A case has been registered under Sections 112(1) and 318(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with Section 21(gg) of the CP Act.
As the fourth T20I approaches at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, the police have issued a stern warning to cricket enthusiasts. Fans are urged to:
- Purchase tickets only through authorized channels.
- Avoid any transactions with unauthorized sellers on social media.
- Refrain from buying or selling complimentary tickets marked “NOT FOR SALE”, as such actions carry serious legal consequences.
The match comes at a crucial time for the series, with India currently leading 2-1 and seeking to clinch the series, while the West Indies are fighting to stay in contention before the final match in Bengaluru.