Car Washers and Designers Arrested for IPL Ticket Scam at Lucknow Stadium

The Uttar Pradesh Police has arrested four men from Chhattisgarh for allegedly duping cricket fans by selling counterfeit tickets outside Ekana Stadium during ongoing Indian Premier League matches. According to police officials, the accused created fake match tickets using digitally altered copies of original tickets collected from social media platforms and sold them to unsuspecting spectators near the stadium premises.

Police identified the accused as Shrikant Borkar, Nutan Kumar Sahu, Rajendra Chaudhary, and Vishwajeet Sahu. Investigators said the group had allegedly used the CorelDRAW application to reproduce counterfeit tickets that closely resembled genuine IPL entry passes. The forged tickets were reportedly circulated among fans gathered outside the stadium ahead of matches.

Officials stated that two of the accused, Shrikant Borkar and Rajendra Chaudhary, were involved in the car wash business, while Nutan Kumar Sahu and Vishwajeet Sahu worked as designers. Police added that Shrikant also possessed designing skills, which allegedly helped the group in preparing convincing fake tickets. Authorities believe the combination of technical design expertise and access to digital tools enabled the accused to carry out the fraud effectively.

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According to investigators, the group sourced photographs and layouts of authentic IPL tickets from social media platforms before editing and printing duplicate versions. Police suspect the accused had been operating a similar racket in other cities as well and had travelled to Delhi and various cricket venues in the past to sell fake tickets during high-profile matches and sporting events.

The arrests were made after law enforcement agencies increased surveillance around Ekana Stadium following complaints from cricket fans and event staff regarding suspicious tickets. Police said the fake passes were designed to appear identical to original tickets, making it difficult for buyers to identify the fraud until verification checks were conducted at entry gates. Authorities are now examining whether more individuals were involved in the operation.

The case has once again highlighted concerns over ticket fraud during major sporting events in India, especially during the IPL season when demand for match tickets rises sharply. Police have urged cricket fans to purchase tickets only through authorised platforms and official sellers to avoid falling victim to scams. Further investigation is underway to determine the scale of the operation and identify additional victims or associates connected to the racket.

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