Nearly 1,000-1,200 complimentary tickets for each IPL match were allegedly being sold on the black market by a “systematic racket" led by a top Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) official, according to a report. Delhi Police recently arrested three men outside the Arun Jaitley Stadium while they were allegedly trying to sell complimentary tickets for an IPL match scheduled at the venue.
Following the questioning of the trio – Mukeem (35), Gufran (36), and Md. Faisal (38) – police also questioned a petrol pump employee, Pankaj Yadav. DDCA officials were subsequently asked to join the widening investigation and were questioned for around four hours.
A report in The Indian Express revealed that the black-market prices for the tickets ranged from Rs 8,000 to Rs 80,000, depending on the match and demand.
Quoting a Delhi Police source, the publication claimed that tickets for matches featuring Virat Kohli were being sold for as much as Rs 80,000 each.
“This was a very systematic racket with this DDCA official at the top. Depending on the star value of the game and players, the rates of the ticket would be decided. Closer to the start of the game, they would charge more," the source told the daily.
“Before the Royal Challengers Bengaluru game with Virat Kohli the major attraction, they charged at least Rs 80,000 for one ticket. We also learnt that the price ranged from Rs 8,000 to Rs 80,000, depending on the match and the demand," the source added.
Under existing norms, each IPL franchise is required to allocate complimentary passes for every game to the host association, amounting to 10-15 per cent of the venue’s capacity.
According to the report, the DDCA received nearly 6,000 complimentary passes for each IPL match, of which around 4,000 were distributed among its members.
The publication further reported that the DDCA official in question was allegedly “handing over leftover passes" to the petrol pump employee.
