Police interrogate GCA officials for fake tickets sale

Police on Monday began interrogation of Goa Cricket Association (GCA) officials over allegations of the sale of `duplicate' tickets for the fifth and final one-day international between India and Australia at Margao on April 6.

The South Goa superintendent of police ID Shukla said GCA secretary Vinod Phadte and treasurer Ramashankar Das have appeared before the police in response to the summons and they were being interrogated. Police had summoned them on Sunday but they did not turn up.

Thousands of ticket holders had to return home disappointed after they were denied entry to the stadium as it was packed to capacity.

Police claimed that around 25,000 tickets were sold in excess and if all the people were allowed inside the stadium, there was fear of a stampede. In the chaos that ensued, police made a lathi charge to disperse the spectators.

Meanwhile, the state unit of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has joined other political parties in demanding a probe into the happenings. State NCP chief Wilfred Desouza at a press conference in Panaji said the government must set a time frame for the police to get to the bottom of the `scam.'

Desouza, who demanded a `thorough' probe, said in case the local police failed to come out with tangible results, the case should then be handed over to the CBI.