IPL Ticket Scam at Arun Jaitley Stadium in DC vs MI Match? DDCA Director Alleges Fraud & Security Breach

A senior official of the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) has accused unauthorised persons of using duplicate tickets obtained through fraud to deny entry to valid ticket-holders at IPL matches in the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

DDCA director Anand Verma lodged a complaint with the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central District) regarding the alleged scam during the April 4 IPL encounter between Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians.

In his complaint, Verma claimed that he and his guests were stopped from entering the hospitality section despite possessing valid tickets. He was shocked to discover that the two complimentary physical tickets in his possession had already been scanned and used by unknown individuals.

"When the Complainant and his guests arrived at the designated entry gate of the stadium, they were illegally stopped and denied entry by the security personnel manning the entry point," Verma stated in the complaint.

"Upon enquiry, the Complainant was shocked to learn that the two complimentary physical tickets in his possession had already been scanned and used for entry by some unknown and unauthorised persons," he added.

Verma said he immediately contacted DDCA Chief Financial Officer Manan Gupta to report the "blatant fraud." He also brought the matter to the notice of DDCA President Rohan Jaitley.

According to Verma, Gupta provided the contact of Mr. Bhushan, the DDCA official in charge of tickets, but no satisfactory explanation was given regarding the prior scanning of the tickets. Verma described the incident as "misappropriation of complementary tickets" and termed it "an egregious breach of trust."

He further alleged that it points to a serious security lapse."...it demonstrates a complete breakdown of internal controls... the collusion of security personnel in this fraudulent activity is a matter of grave concern... Their complicity in allowing unauthorised individuals to gain entry by fraudulent means compromises the entire security apparatus of the stadium, posing a significant risk to public safety," Verma alleged.

However, DDCA secretary Ashok Sharma rejected the allegations of ticket duplication. He termed the episode a "technical issue" and said the barcode on the tickets was not read properly by the scanner."Delhi Capitals have communicated to us that it was a technical issue. Sometimes the scanner fails to read the barcode," Sharma told PTI.

The controversy comes at a time when Delhi is scheduled to host five more IPL matches at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in the ongoing season. The incident has raised questions about the robustness of ticket verification systems and stadium security protocols during high-profile cricket events.Verma has demanded a thorough probe into the matter to prevent recurrence and restore confidence among genuine ticket-holders.