CID arrests HCA president and top officials amid forgery and financial misconduct probe
In a sweeping crackdown that has sent shockwaves through Indian domestic cricket, Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) President A. Jagan Mohan Rao was arrested on Wednesday by the Telangana Crime Investigation Department (CID) for his alleged involvement in a ticketing scam tied to the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season.
According to multiple reports, Rao was taken into custody alongside four other senior HCA officials—Treasurer C. Srinivas Rao, CEO Sunil Kante, General Secretary Rajender Yadav, and Yadav’s wife, G. Kavita. The arrests follow a complaint filed on June 9 by Telangana Cricket Association (TCA) General Secretary Dharam Gurava Reddy, accusing Rao of using forged documents to contest HCA elections and misappropriating approximately ₹2.3 crore.
#WATCH | Hyderabad, Telangana: Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) officer bearers, including its president Jagan Mohan Rao, taken into custody by CID last night for questioning into allegations of a ticket scam during IPL 2025 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium.… pic.twitter.com/G4bnydiZiK
— ANI (@ANI) July 10, 2025
The CID registered a case under several sections of the Indian Penal Code, including those related to forgery, criminal breach of trust, cheating, and misappropriation of property.
Sunrisers Hyderabad accuses HCA of intimidation over IPL tickets
The criminal investigation has intersected with a major controversy involving IPL franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), which has accused the HCA of aggressive and coercive behavior during the 2025 season in connection with the distribution of complimentary match passes.
In a formal letter to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the IPL Governing Council, SRH alleged that HCA officials were “threatening” them to extract more complimentary passes than permitted under the agreement. As per the tripartite agreement between SRH, the HCA, and the BCCI, the association is entitled to 3,900 complimentary tickets per match—10% of the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium’s capacity. However, HCA allegedly demanded an additional 10%, which SRH refused.
The tensions escalated when HCA president Jagan Mohan Rao reportedly locked a corporate box hours before SRH’s match against the Lucknow Super Giants on March 27, allegedly demanding 20 extra complimentary tickets. SRH claimed this action directly violated the tripartite agreement and further accused the HCA of resorting to what they described as “blackmailing tactics”—charges HCA leadership has publicly denied.
The situation became so strained that SRH warned it would consider moving its home matches out of Hyderabad if the intimidation continued. The Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy subsequently ordered an investigation into the matter following SRH’s appeal to cricket’s top governing bodies.
HCA and SRH strike temporary resolution amid fallout
In a bid to de-escalate the dispute, HCA Secretary R. Devraj held a meeting with SRH representatives at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium. After discussions and follow-up deliberations with SRH CEO Mr. Shanmugam, the two sides agreed to maintain the existing complimentary ticket allocation as per historical precedent.
“Following in-depth discussions and further telephonic deliberations with SRH CEO Mr Shanmugam, the following resolution was agreed upon: The category allocation of 3,900 complimentary passes to HCA will remain unchanged, consistent with established practice,” stated a joint release from HCA and SRH.
“HCA and SRH are committed to working together amicably to enhance the spectator experience at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium,” the statement added.
Azharuddin calls for disbandment of HCA
The developments have drawn sharp criticism from cricketing legend and former HCA president Mohammed Azharuddin, who demanded the immediate dissolution of the current HCA administration and a thorough investigation into its operations.
“I am deeply disturbed by the ongoing IPL ticket scam and rampant corruption within the Hyderabad Cricket Association. The current HCA body has failed its duty and must be held accountable,” Azharuddin posted on X.
“I urge immediate action, a thorough investigation, and the disbandment of the current HCA administration. It’s time to clean up the system and restore integrity to Hyderabad cricket,” he added.
I am deeply disturbed by the ongoing IPL ticket scam and rampant corruption within the Hyderabad Cricket Association. The current HCA body has failed its duty and must be held accountable.
I urge immediate action, a thorough investigation, and the disbandment of the current HCA…
— Mohammed Azharuddin (@azharflicks) July 9, 2025
Hyderabad cricket in crisis mode
With criminal charges pending, accusations of intimidation against an IPL franchise, and growing public scrutiny, the HCA faces an unprecedented governance crisis. While a short-term resolution with SRH may restore some operational stability, the broader structural and ethical concerns raised by this scandal could have long-lasting implications for the administration of cricket in Telangana—and possibly trigger broader reforms across state associations in India.
