TV
In a sensational development shaking Hyderabad’s cricketing circles, the President of the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA), Jagan Mohan Rao, has been arrested over his alleged role in a massive IPL 2025 ticketing scam.
The scandal, which has now embroiled IPL franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), has exposed deep cracks in the governance of the city’s cricket body.
The Telangana Crime Investigation Department (CID) arrested Rao on Wednesday following a vigilance probe that uncovered irregularities in ticket allocation during IPL 2025 matches at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium. Investigators allege Rao, along with other HCA officials, pressurized SRH for additional complimentary tickets and sold them illegally on the black market.
The probe revealed that HCA officials even locked a corporate box hours before a match, coercing SRH into releasing more passes an act that violated a tri-party agreement between SRH, HCA, and the BCCI.
SRH’s Threat to Relocate Home Matches
Tensions between SRH and HCA had been simmering for months. The franchise accused Rao of “intimidation and blackmail” and escalated complaints to the BCCI and IPL Governing Council. SRH warned it could shift its home matches out of Hyderabad if the harassment continued.
In response, the Telangana government ordered a vigilance inquiry, leading to the CID registering an FIR against Rao and others.
Joint Resolution Reached Amid Tensions
In an attempt to calm the storm, HCA Secretary R. Devraj convened a meeting with SRH representatives at the stadium. After intense negotiations and telephonic consultations with SRH CEO Mr. Shanmugam, both parties agreed to maintain the allocation of 3,900 complimentary passes consistent with long-standing practice.
A joint statement read: “HCA and SRH are committed to working together amicably to enhance the spectator experience at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium.”
