MCA refunds amount to genuine ticket holders

PUNE, MARCH 31: The Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) today refunded around Rs 8 lakhs to bonafide ticket holders who could not gain ...

PUNE, MARCH 31: The Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) today refunded around Rs 8 lakhs to bonafide ticket holders who could not gain entry into the Nehru Stadium on Tuesday for the One-Day International (ODI) between India and Sri Lanka.

Around 6,000 valid ticket holders were refused entry at the 35,000 capacity stadium, which was brimming with a sea of humanity including thousands of spectators who gained entry with bogus tickets. Pandemonium broke loose which led to stone throwing. Police resorted to a lathi charge to enforce control, but the incident left several fans and cops injured.

Meanwhile, the MCA have lodged a police complaint. MCA joint honorary secretary Anand Mate told The Indian Express today that the extent of the scam was beyond imagination.

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Mate revealed: “About 90 percent of the fake tickets were of the Rs 200 denomination while the rest of Rs 100. The perpetrators of the crime used a fake hologram and stamp that hoodwinked those manning the gates. It was only on closer scrutiny the difference was evident.”

The counterfeiters apparently got round MCA’s restrictions of placing a ceiling of four tickets per buyer, Mate added.

Yesterday’s match also saw the arrest of three touts. They were selling tickets priced Rs 100 for Rs 600 and Rs 700 for Rs 1,200.

The deprived fans were mainly from neighbouring districts of Osmanabad, Aurangabad and Solapur, it was learnt.

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