Mumbai man held for possessing special invitee tix for India-New Zealand WC match

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The Mumbai Police made an arrest after discovering a man in possession of two complimentary tickets valued at Rs 1.2 lakh each for the upcoming India-New Zealand World Cup cricket match. These tickets were meant for VIPs or special invitees, an official told PTI on Thursday.

The semi-final match between India and New Zealand is scheduled to take place at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday.

Reportedly, officials from the JJ Marg Police Station seized two tickets from the arrested accused and told the media that the complimentary passes, each costing Rs 1.2 lakh, were allotted to VIPs and special guests.

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According to the PTI report, earlier, an event organiser named Akash Kothari had been apprehended for allegedly engaging in the black market sale of tickets for the World Cup semi-final match. Reports indicated that Kothari was selling tickets at four to five times their original cost.

During the investigation into Kothari's case, the police discovered the additional accused, leading to the latest arrest. The authorities are continuing the investigation into this matter, the report stated.

Amid the crackdown on the sale of tickets in black, Mumbai's Deputy Police Commissioner, Pravin Mundhe, alerted cricket enthusiasts attending the ODI World Cup 2023 semi-final at Wankhede Stadium to stay wary of fraudulent ticket deals. He revealed that the police had apprehended several individuals involved in selling fake tickets during the recent India vs Sri Lanka match and urged fans to exercise caution while purchasing tickets, advising them to acquire tickets solely from official channels and pay the stipulated amount.

Mundhe referenced proceedings under IPC 420 and 511 against people who were trying to sell tickets at outrageous prices, citing examples of black marketing. One ticket was purportedly priced at one lakh twenty thousand rupees.

Mundhe announced an increased security presence, adding more workers and officers to the stadium due to the semi-final match being sold out, in anticipation of greater fan excitement.

On match day, he suggested arriving early. He also mentioned that there would be delays due to improved security standards. He gave a list of items that were prohibited, including water bottles and power banks, and made it clear that the only things allowed inside the stadium were wallets, wristwatches, and cell phones.

The teams for the forthcoming game between New Zealand and India were also revealed.