Hyderabad Cricket Association president, four others arrested in IPL ticket controversy; Mohammed Azharuddin demands HCA be disbanded
Hyderabad Cricket Association president A Jagan Mohan Rao and four other officials were taken into custody by Telangana CID on Wednesday for questioning, in a case of forgery and misappropriation of funds.
Also taken into consideration have been allegations made by Sunrisers Hyderabad during the 2025 IPL season regarding blackmailing tactics for complimentary tickets.
The officials detained include Treasurer C Srinivas Rao, CEO Sunil Kante, General Secretary Rajender Yadav, and his wife G Kavita, according to a senior police official.
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The complaint in the case was made by Dharam Gurava Reddy, general secretary of Telangana Cricket Association (TCA), filed on June 9.
Subsequently, CID filed a case under Sections 465 (punishment for forgery), 468 (forgery for the purpose of cheating), 471 (using as genuine a forged document or electronic record), 403 (dishonest misappropriation of property), 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servant, or by banker, merchant or agent), 420 (cheating) read with 34 (common intention).
The complainant claims HCA president A Jagan Mohan Rao contested the elections using a forged document.
It was also alleged Rao, along with some HCA apex council members, misappropriated funds to the tune of Rs 2.3 crore.
CID arrested Rao from his residence in Gachibowli, Srinivas from Padma Rao Nagarand Kante from Begumpet.
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In the IPL ticketing controversy, Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy had ordered an investigation after Sunrisers Hyderabad sought intervention from cricket governing bodies regarding the HCA's actions.
The franchise raised concerns in a letter to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the IPL Governing Council, claiming the HCA was "threatening" them primarily for more complimentary tickets. The IPL franchise had alleged that as against the agreement of giving 3,900 complimentary passes to the HCA for every match — 10% of the stadium's capacity — the state asociation president was asking for 20 more passes.
The issue even threatened to derail a match between SRH and Lucknow Super Giants.
Sunrisers Hyderabad had warned they would consider relocating their home matches to another state if the issue continued.
The HCA, including Jagan Mohan Rao, has denied all allegations made by the franchise.
Azhar demands HCA be disbanded
In the aftermath of the arrests, former India captain Mohammed Azharuddin, an ex-HCA president, has sought a thorough inquiry into the functioning of the HCA and the disbandment of its current administration.
"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 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.
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