A security guard at the BCCI office in Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, has been arrested for allegedly stealing 261 IPL 2025 jerseys valued at Rs 6.52 lakh. The 40-year-old accused, Farooque Aslam Khan, reportedly sold the jerseys to fund his online gambling addiction.
Each jersey, costing approximately Rs 2,500, was stolen from a storeroom at the BCCI office in Churchgate. While the stolen jerseys represented various cricket teams, it remains unclear whether they were meant for players or the general public.
Khan, who resides in Mira Road, sold the jerseys through an online dealer based in Haryana, whom he had connected with via social media. The theft took place on June 13 but was discovered recently during a stock audit that revealed missing inventory. CCTV footage showed Khan carrying a carton of jerseys out of the premises.
The guard told police he negotiated the price with the online dealer but has not disclosed the exact amount he received. The jerseys were sent via courier. The dealer from Haryana claims he was unaware the jerseys were stolen, believing them to be part of a stock clearance sale due to renovation work at the BCCI office.
So far, only 50 jerseys have been recovered. Investigators are examining Khan’s bank transactions to verify his claim that he lost the money through online gambling.
A formal complaint was filed by a BCCI official at Marine Drive police station on July 17. The police have also summoned the online dealer for questioning as the investigation continues.
