Vigilance Commission Confirms HCA’s Harassment Against SRH, Recommends Action
The investigating agency found that Jagan Mohan Rao personally wanted 10 per cent tickets for himself, but the SRH flatly refused to concede - Vigilance Commission
HYDERABAD: In its preliminary report to the state government, the Vigilance Commission has reportedly confirmed the charges of blackmail and harassment that the IPL franchisee had levelled against the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) over the allotment of IPL complimentary tickets. It also recommended action against HCA office bearers as per the rules.
The government had an investigation by the Vigilance Commission after Sunrisers Hyderabad threatened to change their home city from Hyderabad because of threats made by HCA bosses including its president A. Jagan Mohan Rao, secretary R. Devraj and others.
The commission has confirmed that the HCA had exerted pressure on SRH through various means to get additional tickets. The SRH management has been allocating 10 per cent of tickets, free of cost, and refused to allocate more complimentary tickets to the HCA.
HCA secretary Devraj sought an additional 10 per cent tickets, while president Jagan Mohan Rao demanded that the tickets be made available to them in the open market. In its response, the SRH had stated that they would look into their demand if they get a formal request officially from HCA.
The investigating agency found that Jagan Mohan Rao personally wanted 10 per cent tickets for himself, but the SRH flatly refused to concede.
According to the Vigilance Commission, when the SRH failed to yield to the pressure by HCA bosses, Jagan Mohan Rao locked the VIP galleries during a match between Hyderabad and Lucknow.
The HCA also faced charges that it took more than 40 per cent of the car passes, affecting stadium operations and access. It was not clear whether the vigilance team also submitted any report on irregularities occurred during the recent transfer of cricket club ownerships within HCA, which has governance and conflict of interest implications.