Follow TNM's WhatsApp channel for news updates and story links.
The president of the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA), A Jagan Mohan Rao, was arrested by the Crime Investigation Department (CID) on Wednesday, July 9, in connection with a case related to irregularities in sale of Indian Premier League (IPL) tickets and other governance issues in HCA.
The Telangana CID arrested Jagan Mohan Rao, HCA treasurer CJ Srinivas and CEO Sunil Kante after the Vigilance and Enforcement Wing submitted a report to the state government on the alleged irregularities in the HCA. The CID had reportedly booked the HCA officials in June over charges of forgery, misappropriation of funds, criminal breach of trust and cheating.
The CID had registered the FIR based on a complaint from D Guruva Reddy, general secretary of the Telangana Cricket Association, who alleged that Jagan Mohan Rao contested the 2023 HCA elections based on forged documents, and misappropriated HCA funds worth Rs 2.32 crore, according to The Times of India.
The CID has also reportedly taken into consideration a vigilance inquiry into allegations by the IPL team Sun Risers Hyderabad (SRH) of undue pressure by the HCA for extra tickets.
In March 2025, SRH had alleged that they were facing intimidation from HCA officials for additional free tickets for personal sale and black market sale. SRH, owned by the Tamil Nadu-based Sun Group, had reportedly threatened to move the franchise away from Hyderabad, alleging that the HCA’s coercion tactics was making it difficult to use the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Hyderabad.
Following these allegations, the Telangana government had ordered a vigilance inquiry. The inquiry has reportedly found major irregularities and has recommended disciplinary action against the HCA administration.
SRH and HCA had got into a confrontation ahead of an SRH match during the recent IPL season in March, when some HCA officials allegedly locked one of the corporate boxes at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, and refused to unlock it unless HCA was given extra complimentary tickets.
SRH alleged that Jagan Mohan Rao’s actions violated the tri-partite agreement between SRH, HCA, and the BCCI, which allocates only 3,900 complimentary tickets (10% of stadium capacity) to HCA.
Former India captain Mohammed Azharuddin has sought a thorough inquiry into the functioning of the Hyderabad Cricket Association and the disbandment of its current administration, following the arrests.
Azhar, a former president of HCA, said that he was disturbed by the “IPL ticket scam” and “rampant corruption” in HCA, and added that the current HCA body has failed to discharge its duties properly.
"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 in a post 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,” said Azhar in his post.
The SRH management had threatened to relocate the IPL franchise to another city after the HCA administration locked some corporate boxes following a dispute with the franchise over free tickets to the state body. The corporate boxes were unlocked only after SRH succumbed to the pressure and allocated the number of tickets demanded by HCA officials, the franchise had alleged.
As per the probe findings, SRH was already providing 10% of match tickets free of charge to HCA, following established norms. Despite this, the HCA secretary allegedly demanded an additional 10%, which SRH refused. The report further noted that HCA president A Jagan Mohan Rao made a similar request for an extra 10% of tickets for personal use, according to IANS. Upon the franchise’s refusal, he allegedly retaliated by creating logistical obstacles.
With IANS inputs
