Canteen worker held for black-marketing 180 IPL tickets for RCB matches at Bengaluru stadium

A canteen worker at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium has been arrested for allegedly selling Indian Premier League (IPL) tickets at inflated prices, with police uncovering a wider black-marketing network involving corporate entities and insiders.

As per reports, the accused, Chandrashekhar, was employed at a canteen inside the stadium and was apprehended by the Bengaluru Central Crime Branch (CCB) while allegedly selling over 180 tickets in the black market at rates ranging between ₹15,000 and ₹19,000 per ticket.

Police said the tickets were for the high-demand IPL match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) held on April 15.

The investigation was initiated following specific inputs about the bulk purchase of match tickets that were being resold to the public at significantly higher prices. During the probe, officials questioned several individuals associated with stadium operations before zeroing in on the accused.

Preliminary findings revealed that the tickets had been reportedly purchased in bulk through an online booking platform under the names of private firms, including Swastik Heavy Engineering and Industrial Automation Consultant Company, as well as Dharani Computers Company. These tickets were subsequently diverted and sold at inflated rates, police said.

Investigators also found a similar pattern during the March 28 IPL match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Chennai Super Kings, where tickets purchased in bulk were allegedly resold on the black market.

In total, police said 181 tickets across price categories, collectively worth over ₹17.5 lakh, were procured and resold illegally.

During questioning, Chandrashekhar allegedly told investigators that the tickets were supplied by a member of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), identified as Ganesh Pareekshit, who is currently absconding. Efforts are under way to trace him, police said.

A case has also been registered against the managing directors of certain private companies for their alleged role in facilitating the illegal sale of tickets.