Some theatre managements are trying to cash in on the fan frenzy. more-in Amid increasing trade of Baahubali 2 tickets in the black at the behest of the managements of cinemas in the city, the city police nabbed nine persons, including managers of two cinemas, on Sunday. Following allegations of illegal sale of the tickets, the Commissioner’s Task Force arrested four persons working in Kaparthi and Jayaram cinemas when they were found selling tickets illegally on the day of the release of the movie. The police have focused on single screen cinemas. On Saturday night too, people selling tickets outside the counters at the city’s famous Alankar, Sailaja and Jayaram cinemas were nabbed by the CTF. As many as 67 tickets and ?5,500 in cash was seized from them. Satyanarayanapuram police, who took up a further investigation, on Sunday booked the cinema managements and nabbed two managers who were giving tickets in bulk to private persons. Another manager accused of illegal sale is yet to be nabbed. The managements have also been accused of creating an artificial demand for selling tickets at higher prices between ?300 to ?1,000. Action against managements Police rarely book managements when black ticket sellers are apprehended outside cinemas. “Yes, we rarely book the managements. Long ago we have booked them. Now, the trade has become rampant and the role of managements is apparent. We will arrest the managers who let out tickets in large numbers for private persons and their employees,” Satyanarayana Puram CI M. Satyanarayana told The Hindu. “There was an immediate effect of the arrests on the trade. Managements stopped pumping out tickets for the black market,” he said. “We have apprehended the persons selling tickets illegally at the cinemas and handed them over to the concerned police station. Vigil on the illegal trade will be on,” said Task Force ACP P. Muralidhar. However, police did not reveal the names of all the accused.

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