In a startling incident, a senior security official at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium has been arrested for allegedly stealing 261 Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 jerseys worth approximately ₹6.52 lakh from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)’s official merchandise stock. The accused, 43-year-old Farooque Aslam Khan, resides in Mira Road and was apprehended recently by police. He is currently out on bail.
The theft reportedly occurred on June 13, 2025, when Khan exited the BCCI storeroom at Wankhede Stadium carrying a large carton filled with official IPL jerseys, each valued at ₹2,500. The missing inventory went unnoticed until a July audit exposed discrepancies. BCCI officials, upon reviewing CCTV footage, identified Khan removing the box, prompting them to file a formal police complaint on July 17 at the Marine Drive Police Station.
IPL Jerseys Sold Online to Fund Gambling Habit
Further investigations revealed that Khan had sold many of the stolen jerseys to a dealer based in Haryana. He had allegedly contacted the buyer through social media and misrepresented the sale as a “stock clearance” linked to ongoing renovations at BCCI facilities.
Police sources confirmed that 50 out of the 261 stolen jerseys have been recovered from Khan. During interrogation, the accused confessed that he used the money from the sales to support his addiction to online gambling.
“He told us he was struggling financially and saw this as a quick way to earn money,” said a senior police official involved in the investigation.
The Haryana-based dealer who unknowingly purchased the jerseys has claimed he was unaware the merchandise was stolen. Authorities have summoned him for further questioning.
Security Protocols Under Scrutiny
The case has raised serious questions regarding internal checks and security measures at high-profile cricket venues like Wankhede. Khan has been charged under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, including theft and criminal breach of trust.
“This incident highlights the need for tighter control and surveillance within cricket venues, especially where official assets are stored,” said a BCCI spokesperson.
Police are also trying to determine whether the stolen jerseys were intended for IPL players or were part of the merchandise meant for public sale through the BCCI’s official channels.
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