NEW DELHI: A 21-year-old college student was on Saturday arrested by the police for illegally entering the playing area during an IPL match at the
Narendra Modi stadium
in Ahmedabad.
The incident took place on Friday night when the defending champions Chennai Super Kings were up against Gujarat Titans.
Despite stringent security measures in place, the fan managed to breach the cordon and made his way onto the field to meet his idol MS Dhoni.
The authorities have charged the man with criminal trespass for his actions.
Jaykumar Jani, a native of Rabarika village in Bhavnagar district, has been arrested under section 447 (criminal trespass) of the IPC, Assistant Commissioner of Police DV Rana said.
Jani informed the police that he was Dhoni's fan and wanted to meet him, he said.
He jumped the barricades and ran towards the cricketer who was batting, the official said.
In a video of the incident that surfaced on social media, Jani is seen bowing at Dhoni's feet near the pitch and hugging him before security personnel take him away.
"Jani and his brother Parth travelled from Bhavnagar to watch the match. During a DRS (decision review system) break, Jani first jumped the metal barricades near the black screen and ran towards the pitch. He was quickly apprehended and taken to Chandkheda police station," Rana said.
He was formally arrested on Saturday after a first information report (FIR) was registered against him, the official said.
This is the second such incident at Narendra Modi stadium in six months.
In November 2023, Wayne Johnson, an Australian national of Chinese-Filipino origin, breached the security cordon to enter the field to hug Virat Kohli during the World Cup final between India and Australia.
(With inputs from PTI)
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