The IPL jersey robbery at the BCCI office in Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium has raised serious concerns regarding internal security and accountability in the Office. On June 13, 2025, as per reports, 261 official IPL jerseys were stolen from the BCCI’s merchandise store. The estimated loss amounted to ₹6.52 lakh, prompting an immediate internal inquiry.
Initially, the theft went unnoticed. However, during a routine stock/financial audit, officials discovered the discrepancy in stocks and inventory. As a result, the BCCI team took a closer look at the CCTV footage from the location. The video showed security manager Farooque Aslam Khan leaving the premises with a full carton of jerseys, displaying questionable behavior.
Following this discovery, the BCCI reported the incident to the Marine Drive Police Station. On July 17, authorities filed a First Information Report (FIR) under Section 306 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. Hemang Bharat Kumar Amin, a BCCI employee working at Wankhede, complained.
Khan, who lives in Mira Road, Mumbai, decided to sell a box of stolen jerseys online to a dealer located in Haryana. Subsequent investigations revealed that he was battling a compulsive online gambling addiction. Reportedly, he had connected with the dealer through social media and falsely claimed that the jerseys were part of a clearance sale due to office renovations. As of now, only 50 out of the 261 stolen jerseys have been recovered.
Meanwhile, the police are actively analyzing Khan’s financial records and additional CCTV footage to trace the remaining stolen items. Their efforts aim to uncover the full extent of the transaction and identify any possible accomplices.
Notably, the stolen merchandise included jerseys from all ten IPL franchises. Like Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals, Punjab Kings, Gujarat Titans, and Lucknow Super Giants. This fact indicates that someone pre-planned and executed the theft with intent.
The approximate value per jersey was ₹2,500, emphasizing the organized nature of the crime. This was not a minor theft but a calculated act carried out from within the organization.
In conclusion, the IPL jersey robbery at the BCCI office highlights a significant lapse in internal controls and operational security in Mumbai. Given the popularity and commercial value of IPL merchandise, the BCCI must now strengthen its internal procedures and monitoring systems to prevent such incidents in the future.
