Hyderabad Police arrest 4 for selling “Not for Sale” passes at higher prices ahead of IND vs WI 4th T20I

Hyderabad Police have arrested four people for allegedly selling complimentary tickets at high prices ahead of the fourth T20I between India and the West Indies. The match is scheduled to take place at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Uppal on Wednesday. Police seized 11 match passes marked “NOT FOR SALE” during the operation.

The case came to light after Goshamahal Police received a complaint on October 12 about the alleged sale of complimentary tickets near SD Mall in Begum Bazar. Acting on the information, police arrested Avinash Darak and Mohit Somani and recovered 11 match passes from them. The passes were clearly marked “NOT FOR SALE”.

During the investigation, Avinash Darak and Mohit Somani allegedly revealed that they had obtained the passes through Akarshit Srivastava and advertised them for sale on social media at high prices. The four accused have been identified as Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) member Satish Chandra Srivastava, his son Akarshit Srivastava, Avinash Darak and Mohit Somani. Hyderabad Police are investigating the alleged black-marketing case.

Hyderabad Police seize 11 “NOT FOR SALE” passes ahead of 4th India-West Indies T20I

The development comes ahead of the fourth T20I between India and the West Indies in Hyderabad on Wednesday. India lead the five-match series 2-1 and will look to win the match to take an unassailable lead. Meanwhile, the West Indies will aim to level the series before the final match in Bengaluru on Saturday.

According to Goshamahal Inspector B Sravan Kumar, the accused allegedly sold complimentary tickets for Rs 3,500 to Rs 6,000 each, depending on the pavilion. During questioning, Avinash Darak and Mohit Somani allegedly said they had received the passes from Akarshit Srivastava and advertised them on WhatsApp and Instagram at higher prices. Akarshit allegedly obtained the passes from his father, Satish Chandra Srivastava, a member of the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA). Police said the accused had allegedly sold around nine complimentary tickets and will contact the HCA to check how many passes were issued to Satish.

See also -How to watch India vs West Indies 4th T20I 2026 live in India: Date, timings, venue and live streaming

The four accused — Akarshit Srivastava, Avinash Darak, Mohit Somani and Satish Chandra Srivastava — were arrested on October 13 and remanded to judicial custody. Goshamahal Police registered a case under Sections 112(1) and 318(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 21(gg) of the CP Act. The investigation is ongoing. Police have advised cricket fans to buy tickets only through authorised channels and avoid deals with unknown sellers on social media. They also warned that buying or selling complimentary passes marked “NOT FOR SALE” could lead to legal action.

How free complimentary tickets allegedly ended up on the black market

According to Goshamahal Police Station Inspector B Sravan Kumar, Akarshit Srivastava told investigators that his father, Satish Chandra Srivastava, is a member of the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) at Uppal Cricket Stadium. Akarshit allegedly obtained the complimentary match tickets from his father and handed them to Avinash Darak for sale. Avinash, with the help of his brother-in-law Mohit Somani, allegedly advertised the tickets on social media.

Police said the accused and their associates allegedly sold the complimentary passes at high prices in the black market. The four accused were arrested on October 13 and remanded to judicial custody. Goshamahal Police registered a case under Sections 112(1) and 318(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 21(gg) of the City Police Act. The investigation is ongoing. Police have urged cricket fans to buy match tickets only through authorised channels and report suspected black-marketing. They also warned that buying or selling complimentary passes marked “NOT FOR SALE” could lead to legal action.

See also -Watch: “Ela unnaru Hyderabad?” – Ishan Kishan shares special message for Hyderabad fans ahead of IND vs WI 4th T20I

The arrests came ahead of the fourth T20I between India and the West Indies, scheduled to take place in Hyderabad on October 14. India lead the five-match series 2-1 and will look to secure an unassailable lead with a win. Meanwhile, the West Indies will aim to level the series before the final match in Bengaluru on Saturday.

What happens next: Legal action against the 4 accused and stricter pass checks

The four accused have been arrested and remanded to judicial custody. Goshamahal Police are continuing their investigation into the alleged black-marketing of complimentary tickets for the India-West Indies fourth T20I. The case has been registered under Sections 112(1) and 318(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 21(gg) of the City Police Act.

Police will also contact the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) to check how many complimentary passes were issued to Satish Chandra Srivastava, an HCA member. This step could help investigators understand how the passes reached the alleged sellers. Further action may follow based on the findings of the investigation.

Meanwhile, Hyderabad Police have urged cricket fans to buy match tickets only through authorised channels. They have warned people against buying or selling complimentary passes marked “NOT FOR SALE”. Police have also advised fans to avoid suspicious offers on social media and report suspected black-marketing to the authorities.