The Uttar Pradesh T20 League is currently under the scanner following allegations of match-fixing, prompting the Lucknow police to register a First Information Report (FIR). The controversy arose after Arjun Chauhan, the manager of the Kashi Rudras team, reported receiving a suspicious offer of ₹1 crore to fix matches.

According to the FIR, Chauhan was contacted via Instagram by a user identified as 'vipss_nakrani' on August 19. The individual, claiming to be a "big bookmaker," proposed a deal to manipulate match outcomes in exchange for ₹1 crore, with an additional promise of ₹50 lakh as commission for Chauhan. The accused allegedly insisted on having a player within the team follow specific instructions during the games to ensure the desired results. Furthermore, the suspect assured Chauhan that payments would be made promptly in US dollars or cash after the matches.

Chauhan immediately reported the incident to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The BCCI's Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) then launched an internal investigation and corroborated the allegations. The ACU meticulously documented the interactions, including WhatsApp messages and voice calls, gathering screenshots, transcripts, and audio clips as evidence. The evidence was then submitted to the police.

The FIR was officially lodged by Hardayal Singh Champawat, the anti-corruption manager for the UP T20 League in Lucknow, at the Sushant Golf City police station. Police have registered a case against the unidentified suspect and their associates under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including cheating, cheating by personation, penalising organised crime, and attempting to commit offences, as well as sections of the Public Gambling Act, 1867, and the Information Technology Act.

Authorities have initiated an investigation to identify the person operating the Instagram account and to uncover their network of accomplices. Preliminary inquiries suggest a coordinated conspiracy involving betting and match-fixing. The police plan to record the statement of the team manager as part of the ongoing inquiry.

The UP T20 League commenced in Lucknow on August 17 and is scheduled to continue until September 6. This incident has cast a shadow over the league, raising concerns about the integrity of the matches. This is not the first time that match-fixing allegations have surfaced in Indian cricket. In 2010, media reports suggested that income tax documents claimed match-fixing was rampant in the T20 league, with senior players influencing juniors to fix games. In April 2025, a former co-owner of a Mumbai T20 League franchise was banned by the BCCI for making a corrupt approach to players during the tournament's 2019 edition.