HCA member, son among four held for allegedly selling T20 match tickets on black market

Four people, including an HCA member and his son, were arrested in Hyderabad for allegedly selling complimentary tickets for the India-West Indies fourth T20 International at inflated prices. Police seized 11 match tickets, cash, mobile phones and a two-wheeler

Hyderabad: A Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) member, his son and two others were arrested by Goshamahal police on Tuesday for allegedly selling complimentary tickets for the fourth India-West Indies T20 International cricket match on the black market at exorbitant prices.

According to the police, Avinnash Darak (24) and Mohith Somani (30) were caught in Goshamahal. Police seized 11 complimentary tickets for the match, eight passes for a Navratri event, Rs. 5,000 in cash, three mobile phones and a two-wheeler from them.

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During questioning, the two allegedly revealed that they had obtained the complimentary tickets through Akarshit Srivastava, who had received them from his father, Satish Chandra Srivastava, an HCA member associated with Uppal cricket stadium, police said.

Akarshit allegedly supplied the tickets to Darak, who, along with his brother-in-law, Mohith, advertised them for sale through WhatsApp status updates and Instagram. Interested buyers reportedly contacted them through social media, and the tickets were sold at inflated prices.

Police subsequently apprehended Akarshit and his father, Satish Chandra Srivastava. All four were arrested on Tuesday and remanded to judicial custody.