Telangana CM Revanth Reddy order probe against HCA office bearers harassment against SRH for free passes | India News

Telangana CM A Revanth Reddy ordered an investigation into allegations against Hyderabad Cricket Association officials harassing Sunrisers Hyderabad with demands for free tickets. SRH management threatened to relocate if such practices continue. IPS officer K Sreenivasa Reddy will conduct the inquiry. A recent incident involved HCA representatives locking a box on SRH’s match day until extra tickets were provided.

HYDERABAD: Following media reports about the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) president and some other top officials harassing and blackmailing the IPL franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad over free tickets, Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy, on Monday, ordered an investigation into the matter.
The state government appointed senior IPS officer Kothakota Sreenivasa Reddy, currently serving as director general (vigilance & enforcement) to conduct an investigation in the case and submit a report soon.
Recently, the SRH management took strong objection to HCA president A Jagan Mohan Rao’s conduct and shot an email, threatening to stop playing matches in Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket stadium if they continue to harass them with demands for free tickets.
“All these unprofessional threats and actions by HCA, especially by the HCA president, make it evident that you don’t want Sunrisers to play at your stadium. If that is the case, please let me know in writing so that we can inform the BCCI, the Telangana govt, and our management that you wish for us to move to another venue, and we will move,” Sunrisers’ general manager Srinath TB told HCA in an email.
Reacting to this development, the state government took cognizance and ordered an enquiry to end the culture of franchises demanding free tickets.
“The chief minister has appointed Sreenivasa Reddy to enquiry into the allegations. He has also issued instructions to esnure that no one harasses the SRH management for passes no matter who they are. It could be officers in uniform or anyone else for that matter, this practice should end,’’ a source in the secretariat told TOI.
What triggered the row was HCA representatives locking up a box on the day of the SRH-LSG match on Thursday. “Please note that we pay the appropriate rent for the stadium, and during the tenure of the IPL, the stadium is under our jurisdiction. But in the last game, you locked the F3 box, refusing to open it unless 20 extra free tickets were given to you. This unprofessional behaviour creates a hostile environment, making cooperation increasingly difficult,” he stated.