Sunrisers Hyderabad Levels Serious Allegations Against HCA President

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), a prominent IPL franchise owned by the Sun Group, has publicly accused the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) president, Jagan Mohan Rao, of engaging in a series of unethical practices, including blackmail, coercion, and threatening behavior directed at the team’s staff. The allegations have escalated a dispute over ticket allotments and complimentary passes, creating a tense environment ahead of IPL matches.

Detailed Account of the Allegations

Here’s a breakdown of the specific grievances outlined by SRH:

1. Blackmail and Coercion: SRH claims Rao threatened staff members prior to the IPL season, leading to a written complaint. The franchise alleges Rao locked a corporate box belonging to Lucknow Super Giants owner Sanjiv Goenka just hours before a match, attempting to extort additional complimentary tickets.

2. Ticket Allotment Demands: Rao allegedly demanded SRH block 10% (3900 tickets per match) of tickets for his personal purchase, exceeding the usual 3900 complimentary tickets already provided to the HCA. When initially refused, Rao reportedly insisted on a minimum of 2500 tickets with individual purchase links, threatening non-cooperation.

   • SRH reluctantly agreed to block 1000 tickets initially, increasing it to 2000 after Rao’s dissatisfaction.
   • The franchise refused to provide individual purchase links due to concerns about ticket scalping and transparency.

3. Payment Condition and Subsequent Standoff: SRH insisted that any ticket purchases be made from the OFFICIAL HCA Bank account through a single payment link sent to the HCA email address to ensure transparency. Rao reportedly ceased communication following this condition.

4. Discrepancies in Ticket Allocation: SRH disputes the HCA’s claims regarding ticket distribution, asserting they handed over 3900 complimentary tickets as agreed, but were subsequently instructed to replace 20 tickets from one box with tickets from another.

5. False Accusations and Misrepresentation: SRH denies HCA’s accusations that its officials failed to respond to inquiries, providing evidence of WhatsApp messages as proof.

6. Taking Credit for Franchise Renovations: The Sunrisers Hyderabad franchise emphasizes that it funded and undertook stadium renovations, including painting, toilet upgrades, box improvements, and new AC installations. Rao allegedly misrepresented these efforts as his own, prompting SRH to request a joint press conference to clarify the situation.

Franchise's Request and Current Status

The SRH franchise has formally requested an in-person meeting with the HCA Apex Council to present evidence and resolve the issues. The HCA has yet to respond to this request. SRH has also expressed gratitude for the cooperation of other HCA officials and hopes for a prompt resolution.

Financial Implications

It's standard practice for IPL franchises to pay a fee of ₹1 crore to the state association for each IPL game they host. This dispute could potentially impact future financial agreements and the operational relationship between SRH and the HCA.