Ahead of the much-anticipated IPL 2025 opener between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Kolkata Police arrested three individuals in a major crackdown on black marketing of match tickets.
The accused include Piyush Mahendra, Kamal Hussain, and Shahbaz Khan—all apprehended from different parts of the city for either online fraud or illegal resale of tickets. Mahendra and Hussain were picked up from Girish Park following a complaint by a local resident, Dhiraj Mali. Mali alleged that he had paid Rs20,000 for IPL tickets promoted online by one Ashish Sharma but received lower-value and complimentary tickets instead.
Police recovered 17 IPL match tickets, four complimentary passes, two mobile phones, and Rs20,600 in cash from the duo. They were booked under the West Bengal Black Marketing Act, 1948, and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS).
Meanwhile, Shahbaz Khan was arrested near New Market after he was caught attempting to resell six IPL tickets at inflated prices.
Police have warned of rising scams involving fake IPL tickets, both online and in physical markets. “We’re actively monitoring social media platforms and unofficial vendors. Strict action will be taken against all offenders,” said a senior officer from Lalbazar.
Authorities are urging fans to purchase tickets only from official platforms and report any suspicious activity immediately.
