Hyderabad Police have apprehended four individuals in connection with the alleged black marketing of complimentary tickets for the upcoming fourth T20 International match between India and the West Indies. The match is scheduled to take place at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Wednesday. During the operation, law enforcement officials seized 11 match passes that were clearly marked as “NOT FOR SALE.”

The arrests were made by the Goshamahal Police after they received a tip-off regarding the illegal sale of tickets at inflated prices. The operation also resulted in the confiscation of eight passes for a Navratri event, Rs 5,000 in cash, four mobile phones, and a two-wheeler, among other items.

The case came to light on October 12 when Assistant Sub-Inspector V Janardhan Naik was informed about the alleged ticket sales occurring near SD Mall in Begum Bazar. Naik, along with police constable G Sai Kumar, conducted a patrol in the area around 9 pm, which led to the apprehension of two suspects, Avinash Darak, aged 24, and Mohit Somani, aged 30.

Details of the Alleged Ticket Sales

Upon questioning, Darak and Somani reportedly revealed that they had acquired the cricket tickets from Akarshit Srivastava. They had been advertising these tickets for sale on social media platforms at significantly marked-up prices. The police indicated that this was part of a broader scheme to profit from the complimentary tickets.

Further investigation disclosed that Akarshit Srivastava had allegedly obtained the tickets from his father, Satish Chandra Srivastava, who is affiliated with the Hyderabad Cricket Association at Uppal Cricket Stadium. It was reported that Akarshit supplied the tickets to Darak, who, with assistance from his brother-in-law Somani, promoted the tickets online.

According to police statements, interested buyers were contacted through these social media platforms, and the tickets were sold at exorbitant prices in the black market. This illegal activity has raised concerns among law enforcement regarding the integrity of ticket sales for major sporting events.

Legal Action and Public Advisory

The four accused—Akarshit Srivastava, Avinash Darak, Mohit Somani, and Satish Chandra Srivastava—were arrested on October 13 and subsequently remanded to judicial custody. The Goshamahal Police have registered a case under Sections 112(1) and 318(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 21(gg) of the CP Act. The investigation into the matter is ongoing.

In light of these events, the police have issued a public advisory urging cricket fans to purchase tickets solely through authorised channels. They have cautioned against engaging in transactions with unauthorised sellers on social media, particularly regarding complimentary tickets marked “NOT FOR SALE.” The police have warned that such activities could lead to legal repercussions.

This incident comes just before the fourth T20I match between India and the West Indies, where India currently leads the five-match series 2-1. The Indian team aims to secure a decisive victory, while the West Indies will be looking to level the series before the final match set to occur in Bengaluru on Saturday.

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