IPL Ticket Scam Busted: 3 Held for Selling Complimentary Passes at ₹20,000 Each

The Delhi Police Crime Branch has busted a black-marketing racket involving Tata IPL match tickets and arrested three men for allegedly selling complimentary passes and regular tickets at highly inflated prices, officials said on Saturday.

The accused Mukeem (35), Gufran alias Sajid (36), and Mohammad Faisal (38) were apprehended after police laid a trap near Delhi Gate on May 8 following specific intelligence inputs about illegal ticket sales.

According to police, the operation was carried out by posing decoy buyers. Once the accused arrived at the spot to complete a deal, they were caught red-handed with tickets and cash , leading to their immediate arrest. A total of 54 IPL tickets , including 33 complimentary passes marked “not for sale,” along with ₹25,000 in cash , were seized.

Investigators said the trio posed as authorised representatives of the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) and sold tickets at premium rates. Complimentary passes were reportedly sold for up to ₹20,000 each , while regular tickets were sold at nearly double their face value depending on demand.

Police suspect the group was part of a multi-city black-marketing network , sourcing tickets from different venues and travelling by air to IPL host cities. Some tickets may have been diverted to individuals linked to online betting syndicates operating inside stadiums , officials added.

The accused also have prior criminal cases in Delhi, Punjab, and Haryana related to cheating, gambling, and ticket fraud, police said. An FIR has been registered and all three are currently in police custody.

Officials noted this case is distinct from a recent IPL ticket fraud case involving AI-generated fake listings using ChatGPT , where digital tools were allegedly used to create convincing online scams. In contrast, this racket relied on physical diversion and resale of genuine tickets and complimentary passes , making it harder to detect through online monitoring systems.

Investigations are ongoing to trace the wider network.