A member of the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) and three others have been arrested in connection with the alleged illegal resale of complimentary tickets for the fourth T20I between India and the West Indies, with passes reportedly offered for as much as ₹6,000 (approx. US$63) each.
The arrests followed a police operation in Hyderabad that uncovered tickets explicitly marked as not available for commercial sale, according to a report by The Times of India. Investigators are now examining how the passes moved from an HCA member into the hands of individuals allegedly marketing them to cricket fans.
The four accused have been identified as HCA member Satish Chandra Srivastava, his son Akarshit Srivastava, Avinash Darak and Mohit Somani. All four were arrested on October 13 in connection with the alleged ticket-selling operation ahead of the October 14 match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Uppal.
Complimentary passes allegedly sold through social media
Police believe the tickets originated with Srivastava, who allegedly provided them to his son before they were passed to Darak and Somani for resale.
The passes were subsequently advertised through WhatsApp and Instagram, with prices varying according to the pavilion. Goshamahal Police Inspector B Sravan Kumar described the alleged distribution arrangement: “They advertised the tickets on WhatsApp and Instagram and were selling them Rs 3,500 to Rs 6,000 (approx. US$37 to US$63) per ticket, depending on the pavilion. Akarshit confessed that his father is a HCA member and had obtained the tickets from him. Akarshit handed over the tickets to Avinash Darak for sale through the latter’s brother-in-law, Somani.”
The allegations concern complimentary passes that were not intended for resale, rather than tickets purchased through the match’s authorised sales channels.
Police seize cricket passes and other items
The case emerged after officers from Goshamahal Police Station received information on October 12 about suspected ticket sales near SD Mall in Begum Bazar.
A patrol team led by Assistant Sub-Inspector V Janardhan Naik subsequently intercepted Darak and Somani and recovered 11 complimentary passes for the India-West Indies match bearing the designation “NOT FOR SALE”.
According to India Today, the police operation also resulted in the seizure of eight passes for a Navratri Dandiya event, ₹5,000 (approx. US$53) in cash, mobile phones and a two-wheeler.
The initial questioning of Darak and Somani led investigators to the alleged involvement of Akarshit and his father, extending the inquiry beyond those found in possession of the tickets.
HCA ticket allocations under scrutiny
Investigators have indicated that approximately nine complimentary match tickets may already have been sold before the arrests.
The inquiry is now expected to examine the allocation of passes to Srivastava, with police seeking information directly from the HCA about the quantity issued to him.
Kumar outlined the next steps in the investigation and judicial process: “We will produce the accused before the magistrate for judicial remand. We have information that the accused had already sold about nine complimentary tickets. We will write to HCA to ascertain how many complimentary tickets were issued to Srivastava.”
The four accused were subsequently remanded to judicial custody, according to India Today.
Police registered the case under Sections 112(1) and 318(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, relating to petty organised crime and cheating, alongside Section 21(gg) of the City Police Act.
Police warn against unauthorised ticket sales
The investigation has brought attention to the handling of complimentary tickets for international cricket fixtures, particularly when passes distributed through official channels are allegedly diverted for private financial gain.
Police have advised spectators to obtain tickets exclusively through authorised outlets and to report suspected black-market sales. Authorities have also warned that individuals involved in buying or selling complimentary passes could face legal consequences.
The alleged operation concerned the fourth T20I of the five-match India-West Indies series in Hyderabad, which the West Indies won by 24 runs. Shai Hope struck an unbeaten 102 as the visitors posted 247/3, before India finished on 223, levelling the series at 2-2.
The investigation remains ongoing, with the HCA’s records of complimentary ticket allocations expected to help police establish the full extent of the alleged resale activity.
