Bengaluru canteen worker held for black marketing 100 RCB match tickets

In a major crackdown on IPL ticket black marketing, Bengaluru police have arrested a canteen worker at the Chinnaswamy Stadium after seizing nearly 100 match tickets allegedly meant for illegal resale. The incident has once again intensified concerns over ticket distribution during IPL 2026.

The accused, identified as Chandrashekhar, worked at Sri Lakshmi Canteen inside the stadium and is accused of selling tickets for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Lucknow Super Giants clash at highly inflated prices.

According to police officials, Chandrashekhar was caught while attempting to sell tickets priced between ₹15,000 and ₹19,000, significantly higher than their original rates.

During questioning, the accused allegedly told investigators that the tickets were supplied by KSCA member Ganesh Parikshit, who reportedly asked him to resell them for profit.

Parikshit is currently absconding, and authorities have launched a search operation to trace him.

The Central Crime Branch (CCB) has also registered an FIR against managing directors of certain private companies for their alleged role in facilitating the illegal sale of tickets.

The recovery of such a large number of tickets has triggered fresh concerns over the scale of black market operations surrounding high-demand IPL matches in Bengaluru, where fans often struggle to secure seats through official channels.

Ticket row deepens in Karnataka

The latest arrest comes amid mounting controversy over IPL ticket allocation in Karnataka.

Earlier, a political storm erupted after Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar announced that all MLAs in the state would receive three complimentary tickets each for IPL matches at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.

The move drew criticism from across the political spectrum, with some legislators themselves expressing dissatisfaction over ticket allocation and seating arrangements.

Opposition leaders also attacked the decision, calling it an example of VIP culture at a time when ordinary cricket fans were unable to access tickets through legitimate booking platforms.

With allegations of black marketing and preferential distribution now under the spotlight, Karnataka’s IPL ticketing system continues to face serious scrutiny, raising larger questions over transparency, fairness and equal access for supporters.