Another IPL scam: Fake tickets, black marketing

Troubles seem to be hitting the Indian Premier League (IPL) from all sides. Even as the investigating agencies look into the murky financial dealings in IPL, black marketers and touts are having a field day, selling tickets for the finals for Rs 3,000-Rs 2 lakh.

The black marketers have even started selling fake tickets in hotels, at railway stations and colonies near the stadium. The tickets for the finals, to be held on April 25 at the D Y Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, are officially priced at Rs 500, Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000.

Sources told Business Standard the black market was flourishing: “There has been a mad rush. A ticket of Rs 500 is now being sold at Rs 3,000-7,000. Similarly, a Rs 5,000 ticket is going for Rs 45,000-70,000 and Rs 10,000 tickets are being sold for as much as Rs 80,000-2 lakh.”

Even the complimentary tickets are being sold at as much as Rs 60,000-1.50 lakh. Police sources admitted they had received complaints about black marketing of tickets. However, no official complaint had so far been lodged.

Police sources also admitted, given that the priority was to ensure there was no untoward incident in the finals, they had not been able to pay much attention to the complaints. “The police is currently concentrating on the law-and-order situation,” admitted a source.

The situation has become so difficult that even politicians are unable to get tickets. A Congress legislator, who was willing to pay up to Rs 10 lakh for a few tickets, was not been able to get any. The legislator, on condition of anonymity, said: “The state government should step in to stop this illegal sale. Ideally, the sale of tickets would have been divided into online and over the counter in a 50:50 ratio. Genuine cricket lovers are simply barred from enjoying the game at the stadium.”

An Opposition legislator, who landed up with a fake ticket for the semi-finals between Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore, said: “I paid Rs 20,000 for a Rs 10,000 ticket. But, when I reached the stadium, I was told the ticket was fake. I could not do much, as it would have only landed me in trouble.”