Madras High Court Directs BCCI And TN Sports Development Authority To Consider Plea Against Black Marketing Of IPL Tickets

The bench of Chief Justice SV Gangapurwala and Justice Sathya Narayana Prasad directed the Board of Control for Cricket in India and the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu to look into the representation of the petitioner, A Sathiya Prakash and to decide the matter on its own merits.

In his plea, Prakash stated that since the IPL attracted fans wordwide, some anti-social elements were attempting to utilize the curiosity of the fans to watch the cricket match live In stadiums. He informed the court that anti-social elements were purchasing tickets in bulk and re-selling the same in several ways at huge costs.

Prakash pointed out that though several norms have been fixed for selling and purchasing of tickets, the same is not implemented by the concerned authorities and it paves the way for the black-marketing mafia group to earn huge income.

Prakash informed the court that 5 persons were arrested on charges of selling IPL tickets for the match held on March 22, 2024, and the police had seized 8 tickets and a sum of Rs. 31,500/- from them. He added that the action was initiated based on complaints that tickets were being sold in the black market but since the main culprits have not been found, it gives the impression that the black market mafia colluded with the officials of the stadium

Prakash submitted that since the normal fans are unable to procure tickets, the public is in the impression that only the influential can enjoy watching the cricket match from the stadium. He further submitted that though he had made representations, the same were not considered.

Thus, Prakash sought directions to the respondent to take stringent action against the black market mafia and eradicate them from interfering in IPL cricket and also take action against the concerned authorities of MA Chidambaram Stadium and Tamil Nadu Cricket Association who have failed to follow the rules and regulations in selling match tickets.

Counsel for the Petitioner: Mr.A.Kalaiselvam

Counsel for the Respondents: Mr.Gautam S.Raman, Mr.A.Edwin Prabhakar, State Government Pleader, assisted by Mr.K.Karthik Jegannath, Government Advocate, Mr.Hasan Mohammed Jinnah, State Public Prosecutor, assisted by Mr.R.Muniyapparaj, Addl.P.P., Mr.P.R.Raman, Senior Counsel, for Mr.A.Uma Sankar

Citation: 2024 LiveLaw (Mad) 180

Case Title: A Sathiya Prakash v The Board of Control for Cricket in India and Others

Case No: WP No.11463 of 2024