'At Rs 1,200, it's a steal'

This is what a cop told this reporter when he approached him for a ticket for the India-New Zealand match.

This is what a cop told this reporter when he approached him for a ticket for the India-New Zealand match.

Even as rain played somewhat of a spoilsport for the fourth ODI between India and New Zealand, cops stationed at the Chinnaswamy Stadium seemed to be making a killing. While this reporter was looking for 'bytes' from fans, he stumbled upon an unusual sight - cops selling the match tickets, in black.


The loot : Some touts claimed that they had stood all night in the chilly
weather to buy these tickets in bulk. pic/Madhusudan Maney

While touts were selling tickets openly, even as cops looked the other way, this reporter spotted a few police personnel who were put on guard duty selling and mediating between the buyers and touts. Though touts selling tickets is nothing new in Bangalore, what really makes the difference is the ticket prices that vary from a one-day international to a test match to the Indian Premier League. If India is playing, it matters a lot.

Open offer
"I have tickets Rs 200 tickets, how many do you need? I can give you five, six and even moreu00a0-- each ticket will cost you Rs 400,"said a mobile tea vendor said. Tickets of various denominations were being sold, including those issued to KSCA club members with no price printed on them.

This reporter spotted many constables selling tickets on Cubbon road, Queen's road and opposite MG Statue. "I have Rs 100 tickets, and I am selling them for Rs150. I have kept the margin small, because others are selling the same tickets for Rs 200 around the stadium. If you don't believe me, go see for yourself. You'll come back to me," said a constable who showed this reporter a bunch of tickets.

Even as we walked around the stadium, we could hear occasional cries ofu00a0 "Tickets, tickets". Some touts claimed that they had stood all night in the chilly weather to buy these tickets in bulk. Sadly, the plainclothesmen who were deployed to keep a check on the black marketing were involved too.

A real bargain
This reporter spoke to a constable in civil dress, and who was selling tickets of a higher value (Rs 1,000), said, " Lucky for you, I am selling it for only Rs 1,200, it's a steal. You should buy it because you will get a good view of the game." We noticed that he had put his yellow badge (On police duty card) in his pocket, while he sold the tickets.

Outside the stadium, when approached by a buyer, the policemen would take them behind trees or the bus stop. Some men were selling

Rs 1,000u00a0 tickets for half the price because they claimed they had gotten them for free.

Cubbon Park Sub-division ACP Devaraju said, "We were more concerned about the security part. I don't believe that cops were involved in any such business. The past few days have been really
exhausting."

"This is something new to me. We should form a separate team to keep an eye on such activities next time," he added.