Watching Ipl Friends Common Court Relief Student Black Ticket Sale

Observing that it is common for cricket enthusiasts to attend IPL matches with friends, the Madras High Court has quashed an FIR against a college student accused of black-marketing IPL tickets ahead of a Chennai Super Kings-Mumbai Indians match, as it found no grounds to continue with the case.

Allowing the plea filed by the final-year BSc Data Science student, Justice M Nirmal Kumar held that continuing the criminal case would unnecessarily jeopardise his education and future employment prospects. “It is common for cricket enthusiasts to go as a group witness the matches and have fun, IPL tournament, an annual feature with fun and joy and during this period, watching cricket match with friends as a group is common,” the order dated June 2 read. The high court noted that there were no grounds to continue with the case.

According to the court records, the petitioner, who is a final-year college student in Chennai, contended that he intended to attend an Indian Premier League (IPL) match between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

He submitted that he had purchased 10 tickets from the open market at higher rates and was keeping them with him for his friends and family members. The petitioner argued that he had no intention to sell it to any third person and was waiting near the match venue with the tickets for the arrival of his friends.

He claimed that when the police questioned him, he informed them that he was waiting for his friends with tickets and that they were all going to a cricket match. It was further stated that he is not a person who is holding the tickets and selling them for higher rates.

The primary allegation made against the petitioner was that he used abusive words against the police who intended to search him, and that he was holding IPL match tickets to the value of Rs 4,000 and sell it for Rs 7,000 and Rs 12,000.

On the other hand, the counsel for the state alleged that police personnel deployed near the stadium on March 21, 2025, received secret information that IPL tickets were being sold at inflated prices.

They claimed that the petitioner attempted to flee after being questioned, pushed a police officer, and admitted that he intended to resell tickets purchased for Rs 4,000 at prices ranging from Rs 7,000 to Rs 12,000. The police also alleged that they seized 20 IPL tickets from him and registered a First Information Report (FIR) under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Tamil Nadu City Police Act.

Holding that there was no justification for allowing the investigation to continue, the court allowed the plea and quashed the FIR. “This court finds no ground to continue with the case…against the petitioner and is liable to be quashed. Accordingly FIR…is quashed as against the petitioner,” it stated.

Ashish Shaji is a Senior Sub-Editor at The Indian Express, where he specializes in legal journalism. Combining a formal education in law with years of editorial experience, Ashish provides authoritative coverage and nuanced analysis of court developments and landmark judicial decisions for a national audience. Expertise Legal Core Competency: Ashish is a law graduate (BA LLB) from IME Law College, CCSU. This academic foundation allows him to move beyond surface-level reporting, offering readers a deep-dive into the technicalities of statutes, case law, and legal precedents. Specialized Legal Reporting: His work at The Indian Express focuses on translating the often-dense proceedings of India's top courts into clear, actionable news. His expertise includes: Judicial Analysis: Breaking down complex orders from the Supreme Court and various High Courts. Legal Developments: Monitoring legislative changes and their practical implications for the public and the legal fraternity. Industry Experience: With over 5 years in the field, Ashish has contributed to several niche legal and professional platforms, honing his ability to communicate complex information. His previous experience includes: Lawsikho: Gaining insights into legal education and practical law. Verdictum: Focusing on high-quality legal news and court updates. Enterslice: Working at the intersection of legal, financial, and advisory services. ... Read More