The Crime Investigation Department (CID) in Hyderabad has arrested Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) President A. Jagan Mohan Rao in connection with alleged irregularities related to ticket allocation and governance during the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. The arrest follows a complaint filed by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) regarding blackmailing tactics for complimentary tickets.
According to reports, the Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy ordered an investigation after Sunrisers Hyderabad sought intervention from cricket governing bodies regarding the HCA's actions. The franchise claimed the HCA was "threatening" them primarily for more complimentary tickets. SRH had warned they would consider relocating their home matches to another state if the issue continued.
The investigation into the matter revealed that Jagan Mohan Rao and other HCA officials pressured the IPL franchise, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), to sell additional tickets, including those for personal sale, and engaged in the black marketing of tickets. SRH accused Rao of intimidation, coercion, and blackmail, claiming he even locked a corporate box hours before a match against Lucknow Super Giants on March 27 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, demanding 20 additional complimentary tickets.
This action allegedly violated a tri-party agreement involving SRH, HCA, and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which allocates 10% of tickets (3,900 complimentary tickets based on stadium capacity) to the association. The HCA, however, has denied all allegations made by the franchise, with Jagan Mohan Rao refuting the claims, stating that no such demands were made to the franchise.
Along with Jagan Mohan Rao, four other officials were also taken into custody. These officials include Treasurer C Srinivas Rao, CEO Sunil Kante, General Secretary Rajender Yadav, and his wife G Kavita.
The CID has reportedly booked the HCA officials over charges of forgery, misappropriation of funds, criminal breach of trust and cheating. CID officials discovered that Jagan Mohan Rao had used a forged cricket club membership to qualify for the 2023 HCA elections. It was also alleged that Jagan Mohan Rao, along with some HCA apex council members, misappropriated ₹ 2.32 crore from the association.
In the aftermath of the arrests, former India captain Mohammed Azharuddin, an ex-HCA president, has sought a thorough inquiry into the functioning of the HCA and the disbandment of its current administration. "I am deeply disturbed by the ongoing IPL ticket scam and rampant corruption within the Hyderabad Cricket Association. The current HCA body has failed its duty and must be held accountable," said Azharuddin on X. "I urge immediate action, a thorough investigation, and the disbandment of the current HCA administration. It's time to clean up the system and restore integrity to Hyderabad cricket".
