Ahmedabad: Since May 29, the city police have booked five people for attempting to scalp tickets to the Indian Premier League (IPL) final, scheduled to be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium on May 31. The final will feature Gujarat Titans taking on Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Police Action Against Ticket Scalping
Ahmedabad Police Commissioner G S Malik issued a notification on Saturday banning the unauthorised sale of IPL tickets. The notification cited the likelihood of heavy crowds and unusually high demand for tickets, emphasizing the need to prevent anti-social elements from exploiting spectators by reselling tickets at inflated prices or stockpiling tickets for illegal resale.
On the night of May 29, Chandkheda police arrested two men for allegedly attempting to scalp tickets. They were nabbed on New CG Road following a tip-off. According to the police complaint, the two men were approaching passers-by and offering match tickets at prices far above the printed rate. During searches, the police recovered two tickets, each with a printed rate of Rs 3,500. The suspects were allegedly attempting to sell the tickets for Rs 15,000 apiece.
Identification of Accused
The arrested men were identified as Ishan Bhatt, 21, and Nirmalkumar Gundesha, 21. During interrogation, they disclosed that the tickets were supplied by Rishabhchandra Jain, 19, who was staying at a hotel in Bapunagar. Subsequently, Jain was also detained. A case has been registered under the provisions of the Gujarat Police Act, and further investigation is underway.
Ban on Ticket Black-Marketing
Commissioner Malik issued a notification imposing a temporary ban on ticket black-marketing ahead of the IPL final. The order states that the restrictions will remain in force across Ahmedabad city from 12 am on Saturday until midnight Sunday. During this period, no person is permitted to sell match tickets above the prescribed price, engage in black-marketing, or hold tickets for the purpose of such resale.
The police have urged the public to report any instances of ticket scalping to the authorities. The action is part of efforts to ensure a smooth and fair experience for genuine fans attending the high-profile match.
