In a major crackdown on Indian Premier League (IPL) ticket black marketing, Bengaluru police have arrested a canteen worker at the Chinnaswamy Stadium after seizing around 100 match tickets. The incident has once again put the spotlight on the growing concerns around ticket distribution during IPL 2026.
The accused, identified as Chandrashekhar, was employed at Sri Lakshmi Canteen inside the stadium and was allegedly involved in selling tickets for inflated prices during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Lucknow Super Giants clash.
According to officials, Chandrashekhar was caught red-handed while attempting to sell tickets at prices ranging between Rs 15,000 and Rs 19,000, far above the original rates.
During interrogation, the accused reportedly revealed that the tickets were supplied by KSCA member Ganesh Parikshit, who allegedly instructed him to sell them at higher prices for profit.
Parikshit is currently absconding, with authorities launching a manhunt to trace him. The Central Crime Branch (CCB) has also registered an FIR against managing directors of certain private companies for their alleged involvement in facilitating the illegal sale of tickets.
The seizure of such a large number of tickets has raised fresh concerns about the scale of black marketing operations during high-profile IPL matches in Bengaluru.
This development comes at a time when ticket distribution in Karnataka has already been under intense scrutiny, with several controversies surfacing in recent weeks.
The latest arrest adds to an already growing list of issues surrounding IPL ticket allocation in the state.
Earlier, a major controversy erupted after Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar announced that all MLAs in the state would receive three complimentary tickets for IPL matches at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.
The decision drew criticism across party lines, with legislators themselves raising concerns over inadequate ticket allocation and seating arrangements. Opposition leaders also questioned the move, calling it an example of VIP culture at a time when general fans were struggling to secure tickets.
With both black marketing and preferential allocation coming under the scanner, the IPL ticketing system in Karnataka continues to face scrutiny, raising questions about transparency and fair access for fans.
Source: India Today