Kolkata Police busts fake IPL ticket racket, arrests TMC leader and six others

The Anti-Rowdy Section of the detective department led the operation, conducting raids at various locations and arresting the accused, including the alleged mastermind, Vikram Saha.

According to sources, Saha is an active leader of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and formerly served as the city president of the TMC’s student wing in Nadia district. Six of Saha’s close associates were also arrested.

According to a police source, the investigation began on April 24, when Sadique Akhter Mondol filed a complaint with the Maidan Police Station in Kolkata. Mondol and his friends had purchased five tickets for the IPL match between CSK and KKR from near the Md. Sporting Club, which took place at Eden Gardens on April 23.

However, when they attempted to enter the stadium, they were informed that the tickets were fake. Following this incident, Mondol filed a written complaint, prompting an FIR and subsequent investigation by the Anti-Rowdy Section of the Kolkata Police Detective Department.

The department was able to track down the ticket sellers in a few days, arresting Baby Begum (46) and her son, Md Washim (29), based on information from a credible source. Dilip Roy (60), Ekhlaque Ahmed (42), and Pappu Kumar Mahato (33) were also arrested based on the statements of the initial accused.

Eventually, the alleged mastermind, Vikram Saha, was apprehended on May 2. Pursuant to Saha’s statement, Arindam Biswas was also arrested on May 4.

According to sources, Saha printed the fake tickets with the assistance of Biswas and then sold them to Pappu Yadav and Dilip Roy, who, in turn, sold them to the general public. All of the accused were brought before the Metropolitan Court in Kolkata and remanded in police custody for further investigation