Hyderabad Cricket Association president Jagan Mohan Rao was one of five officials detained by the Crime Investigation Department (CID) in relation to a ticket fraud during IPL 2025 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, officials reported on Thursday.

The other four officials arrested included JS Srinivasa Rao, Treasurer of HCA, Sunil Kante, CEO of HCA, Rajendra Yadav, General Secretary of Sri Chakra Cricket Club, and G Kavitha, President of Sri Chakra Cricket Club.

“Five individuals have been arrested for embezzlement of funds, mismanagement, and other related charges,” a senior police official informed news agency PTI.

The HCA officials were taken into CID custody on Wednesday after Sunrisers Hyderabad raised allegations against Rao and others during the IPL 2025 season, according to the police.

Previously, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy initiated an inquiry into SRH’s request for intervention from cricket governing bodies to stop the ongoing “blackmailing tactics” employed by the HCA. In a correspondence to the BCCI and the IPL Governing Council, SRH accused the HCA of “threatening” the franchise, primarily for additional complimentary tickets.

The arrests followed a report submitted to the Telangana government by the Vigilance and Enforcement Wing concerning alleged issues with ticket distribution and the management of the HCA during the 2025 IPL season.

A preliminary report has allegedly validated serious allegations made by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) against the HCA, which include claims of threats, coercive tactics, and blackmail regarding free tickets and access to corporate boxes.

SRH claimed that Rao secured a corporate box only hours prior to their match with Lucknow Super Giants on March 27 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. He reportedly requested 20 additional complimentary tickets. The franchise stated that this action breached the tri-party agreement among SRH, HCA, and BCCI, which permits the HCA to obtain 3,900 complimentary tickets — representing 10% of the stadium’s total capacity.