Ranchi’s cricket ticket market is under intense scrutiny following a police raid that led to the arrest of three individuals involved in black marketing. The arrests, made just before an international cricket match, highlight a persistent issue in the city. However, the investigation is extending beyond street-level sellers, with serious allegations suggesting that the illegal sale of tickets is being facilitated by individuals within the Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA). The ease with which tickets are purportedly appearing on the black market raises questions about internal complicity.
The distribution of match tickets has become a point of contention, with former Chief Minister Arjun Munda voicing his concerns on social media regarding the arbitrary allocation process. Adding a new dimension to the scandal, media accreditation passes are also reported to be missing, failing to reach their intended journalistic recipients. Two officials have been identified as central figures in this alleged diversion. Media professionals have confirmed that Jaykumar Sinha, a former cricket coach, was the official responsible for the final decisions regarding the distribution of media passes. Sanjay Pandey is the other individual named, with sources within the JSCA indicating that he had the authority to decide the volume and distribution of media accreditation.
A well-coordinated operation by a specialized team from the Dhurwa Police Station resulted in the apprehension of three suspects. They were found in possession of 13 tickets across various denominations, including Rs 1200, Rs 1600, and Rs 1700. The total value of the seized tickets runs into thousands of rupees. Police sources credit Vimal Kindo, the officer in charge of the Dhurwa Police Station, with leading the successful raid. During questioning, the arrested individuals revealed they operated as a syndicate, allegedly bribing workers and assistants at ticket counters to secure a supply of tickets. These tickets were then resold to fans at substantially marked-up prices, often two to three times their face value. The issue of how the accused obtained these tickets is currently being deferred in the investigation.
An FIR has been registered based on the statements of the arrested individuals, naming ten more persons of interest, including Vishal Chikky, Jitendra Jaiswal, Amit Tobo, Santosh Kumar, Ritik Singh, Manish Kumar, and Sumit. The police are actively pursuing leads to apprehend these additional suspects. Escalating complaints about ticket scalping had been reported around the JSCA stadium. Despite prior warnings from authorities, numerous cricket fans were reportedly compelled to purchase tickets at exorbitant rates.