In a shocking incident, a full carton having official 2025 IPL jerseys was stolen from the BCCI headquarters at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
The Times of India (TOI) reported that the theft took place on June 13 and it came to light only after an audit revealed that the jersey stock was missing. A complaint was registered at the Marine Drive police station on July 17, following which an investigation began.
Follow The Sporting News India on WhatsApp
The stolen carton had 261 jerseys, each priced around ₹2,500. The total value of the missing stock is approximately ₹6.5 lakh.
Who is involved and where did the jerseys end up?
Police reportedly reviewed CCTV footage from the office and spotted Farooque Aslam Khan walking away with a cardboard box.
The accused is allegedly a security guard and he sold the stolen jerseys to a dealer based in Haryana. According to initial reports, the dealer claimed he was unaware the items were stolen.
The guard allegedly told him that the jerseys were being cleared out due to renovation work happening at the BCCI office.
Although the exact amount received in the deal is not yet confirmed, the police said the suspect admitted to negotiating the price. As per sources cited by the Times of India, the guard is said to have used the money to fuel his online gambling habit.
The same report also suggested that the stolen amount was possibly lost completely in gambling activities. Investigators believe this addiction may have driven him to plan the theft.
One police official added that the guard gave the impression of being involved in a casual sale, but further inquiry is underway to check if any larger network is involved.