NEW DELHI: In a stunning turn of events that has rocked the cricketing community, the Crime Investigation Department (CID) of Telangana has arrested Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) President Jagan Mohan Rao along with four other top officials in connection with the IPL 2025 ticket scam. The arrests come after explosive allegations by IPL franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), which accused HCA office bearers of embezzlement, mismanagement, and using intimidation tactics to demand additional complimentary tickets during matches at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium.
The other officials arrested include JS Srinivasa Rao (HCA Treasurer), Sunil Kante (HCA CEO), Rajendra Yadav (General Secretary of Sri Chakra Cricket Club), and G Kavitha (President of Sri Chakra Cricket Club). The arrests were made on Wednesday following a detailed investigation that revealed serious irregularities in ticket distribution, corporate box access, and overall functioning of the HCA during the 2025 IPL season.
The scandal erupted when Sunrisers Hyderabad submitted a formal complaint alleging that HCA officials had repeatedly threatened the franchise and tried to extort extra complimentary tickets in violation of the agreement between SRH, HCA, and BCCI. A particularly shocking incident occurred ahead of SRH’s match against Lucknow Super Giants on March 27, when HCA President Jagan Mohan Rao allegedly locked a corporate box hours before the game, demanding 20 additional tickets, even though the HCA was already entitled to 3,900 complimentary passes, roughly 10% of the stadium’s capacity.
The allegations prompted Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy to order an immediate inquiry. A preliminary report submitted by the Vigilance and Enforcement Wing confirmed multiple violations and established a pattern of coercion and financial misconduct. The report also validated SRH’s claims of harassment and arm-twisting by senior HCA officials, who allegedly used their position to demand perks from the franchise.
According to CID officials, the arrested individuals have been booked under various sections related to fraud, misuse of public office, and criminal intimidation. The investigation has uncovered how officials manipulated ticketing processes and used pressure tactics to gain access to high-value corporate hospitality areas, which are typically reserved for sponsors, dignitaries, and VIPs.
Meanwhile, the HCA has denied all accusations, claiming that all ticket distributions and matchday operations were conducted transparently and within the framework of existing agreements. However, with the arrests and the damning preliminary report, the credibility of the association has come under serious question.
This incident has reignited debates over transparency and corruption in Indian cricket administration, particularly at the state level. It also raises larger questions about the governance of cricketing bodies and the lack of accountability in how public events like the IPL are managed.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the IPL Governing Council have yet to issue an official statement, but sources suggest that further inquiries may be initiated to review the conduct of state associations across the country in light of this scandal. As the investigation deepens, more shocking revelations are expected, making this one of the biggest administrative controversies in recent IPL history.
