The Mumbai Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has escalated its investigation into the alleged black market sales of Coldplay concert tickets, summoning Ashish Hemrajani, CEO of BookMyShow’s parent company Big Tree Entertainment, and the company’s technical head. This move follows a complaint filed by advocate Amit Vyas, who accuses BookMyShow of facilitating the illegal resale of tickets at exorbitant prices.
Vyas alleges that BookMyShow, the official ticketing platform for the Coldplay concert, enabled ticket scalping by manipulating access for legitimate users, effectively locking them out while allowing ticket bots and black market operators to take over the sales process. This, he claims, resulted in tickets initially priced at ₹2,500 being resold by third parties and influencers for as much as ₹3 lakh.
The EOW has already recorded Vyas’s statement and identified several brokers involved in the alleged ticket scalping. Vyas is seeking an FIR against BookMyShow under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, including charges of organized crime, cheating, criminal conspiracy, and criminal breach of trust. He also plans to file a public interest litigation (PIL) with the Bombay High Court to establish regulatory guidelines for major events, aiming to prevent similar fraudulent activities in the future.
The summons issued to Hemrajani and the company’s technical head mark a significant development in the investigation. They are expected to appear before the investigating officer and record their statements. This situation has sparked public outrage, with many fans expressing disappointment and frustration at being unable to secure tickets at legitimate prices. BookMyShow has issued a warning to fans about unauthorized platforms selling fake tickets, urging them not to fall victim to scams. The controversy surrounding the Coldplay concert ticket sales highlights the growing problem of ticket scalping and the need for stricter regulations to protect consumers. The EOW investigation is expected to shed light on the extent of the alleged black market operations and hold those responsible accountable.
