Chinnaswamy Stadium Canteen Staff Arrested for Selling RCB IPL 2026 Tickets in Black Worth INR 17.5 Lakh

A canteen employee at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru has been apprehended by the Central Crime Branch (CCB) for his alleged involvement in a significant black market operation, selling Indian Premier League (IPL) tickets worth an estimated INR 17.5 lakh. The arrest of Chandrashekhar, who worked at the Sri Lakshmi Canteen within the stadium premises, has brought to light a sophisticated network suspected of diverting high-demand match tickets for illegal resale at exorbitant prices. You can follow the Gujarat Titans vs Kolkata Knight Riders Match Scorecard.

Investigation Uncovers Extensive Racket

The CCB's investigation revealed that Chandrashekhar was allegedly caught selling over 180 IPL tickets at inflated rates, ranging from INR 15,000 to INR 19,000 each, significantly above their official face value. These tickets were primarily for highly anticipated matches, including the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) versus Lucknow Super Giants clash on 15 April and an earlier fixture against Chennai Super Kings on 28 March.

Authorities suspect that the tickets were initially procured through bulk corporate bookings via the official ticketing platform, Ticketgenie, under the names of companies such as Swastik Heavy Engineering and Industrial Automation Consultant Company, and Dharani Computers Company, before being diverted for illegal resale.

Alleged Insider Involvement

Further interrogation of the accused has pointed towards the alleged involvement of a Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) member, identified as Ganesh Pareekshit (also referred to as Ganesh Harikesh in some reports), who is currently absconding. Pareekshit is believed to have supplied the tickets to Chandrashekhar, instructing him to sell them at the inflated prices. The CCB has registered cases against the managing directors of the implicated private companies, suggesting a broader conspiracy to facilitate the black market operation. IPL 2026: RR Team Manager Romi Bhinder Fined INR 1 Lakh Over Mobile Phone Use in Dugout

Ongoing Crackdown on Illegal Sales

This recent arrest is part of a wider crackdown by Bengaluru police on black marketing activities surrounding the IPL 2026 season. Earlier in April, 11 individuals were arrested in connection with the black marketing of tickets for the RCB vs Chennai Super Kings match on 5 April, with tickets valued at INR 4.53 lakh seized. The CCB has intensified its surveillance around the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, deploying plainclothes officers and conducting decoy operations to curb such illegal practices.

Police officials have reiterated their commitment to taking strict action against those involved in the illicit sale of tickets, particularly during major sporting events that attract large crowds. The ongoing investigation aims to dismantle the entire network responsible for these black market operations and ensure transparency in ticket distribution.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 17, 2026 07:41 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).