In a swift operation on Sunday, the Crime Branch of Vadodara police successfully dismantled a ticket black-marketing syndicate that was exploiting cricket fans. The police arrested two individuals for allegedly selling tickets for the highly anticipated India–New Zealand One-Day International (ODI) match at grossly inflated prices within the city.
Tip-Off Leads to Arrest in Bhandwada
Acting on specific intelligence, police officials intercepted the two accused in the Bhandwada area. The men were caught red-handed while they were reportedly offering tickets for the match. The tickets in question were for Level 1 and Level 2 stands at the Kotambi International Cricket Stadium.
Investigators revealed that the duo was selling each ticket for Rs 2,000, a price significantly higher than the official rates set by the authorities. The police have identified the arrested individuals as Ketan Patel and Hitesh Joshi.
Seizure and Police Statement
Upon searching the suspects, the police team confiscated a total of 17 ODI match tickets from their possession. A senior police official involved in the case clarified the illegality of their actions, stating, "The accused did not have any authority to sell the tickets and were offering them at higher-than-official rates."
This statement underscores that the men were operating without any valid authorization from the event organizers or ticketing partners, engaging purely in unauthorized profiteering.
Ongoing Investigation and Match Context
The police have now widened the scope of their inquiry. A key focus is to trace the origin of the tickets and determine how Patel and Joshi managed to procure them. Authorities are also working to ascertain whether more tickets were sold by the racket in the preceding days, potentially affecting a larger number of spectators.
The crackdown comes against the backdrop of a major sporting event for the city. The India–New Zealand ODI witnessed a packed crowd at the Kotambi Stadium, marking a significant moment as Vadodara hosted a men's ODI international match after a long gap of 16 years. The high demand for tickets likely created an environment that such black-marketers sought to exploit.
The swift action by the Vadodara Crime Branch serves as a warning to others involved in similar illegal activities and aims to ensure fair access to tickets for genuine sports enthusiasts.
