The Kolkata Police Detective Department has uncovered a fake IPL ticket racket and has detained seven individuals in the matter. The Anti-Rowdy Section of the detective department led the operation, conducted raids at various locations and arrested the accused, including the alleged mastermind, Vikram Saha.
According to sources, Vikram Saha is a leader of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and has served as the city president of the TMC’s student wing in Nadia district.
It is to be noted that, six close associates of Vikram Shah were also arrested.
According to sources, 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 IPL match between CSK and KKR at Eden Gardens on April 23 from near the Md Sporting Club.
However, on the match day when they attempted to enter the stadium, they were told by the guards that their tickets were fake.
Following this incident, Sadique Akhter Mondol filed a written complaint, prompting an FIR and subsequent investigation by the Anti-Rowdy Section of the Kolkata Police Detective Department.
The detective 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. On the basis of Saha’s statement, Arindam Biswas was also arrested on May 4.
Allegedly, Vikram 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 the six accused were brought before the Metropolitan Court in Kolkata and remanded in police custody for further investigation.
