Coldplay: The Mumbai Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has summoned Ashish Hemrajani, CEO and co-founder of BookMyShow, and the company’s technical head over allegations of black marketing and fake ticket sales for the upcoming Coldplay concerts. The British rock band is scheduled to perform at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on January 18, 19, and 21, 2025. These concerts are part of Coldplay’s “Music of the Spheres World Tour,” marking the band’s much-anticipated return to India after eight years.
The probe was initiated following a complaint from advocate Amit Vyas, who accused the popular ticketing platform, BookMyShow, of enabling third-party ticket resales at exorbitant prices. The advocate claimed that tickets initially priced at ₹2,500 were being resold by brokers, influencers, and other parties for as much as ₹3 lakh, severely inflating the original price and depriving genuine fans of access to affordable tickets.
Allegations of Ticket Scalping and Black Marketing
Amit Vyas, in his formal complaint, alleged that BookMyShow facilitated the illegal resale of tickets by enabling certain individuals to buy large numbers of tickets, which were then sold at steep markups. These actions not only misled Coldplay fans but also amounted to fraud. The police have already recorded Vyas’ statement and identified several brokers involved in the alleged scam.
As part of the ongoing investigation, both Ashish Hemrajani and the technical head of the platform have been called to record their statements. They are expected to provide details about the ticket sale process, as well as any possible involvement in the ticket resale racket.
Political Reactions to the Coldplay Ticketing Controversy
The controversy surrounding the Coldplay concert ticket sales has sparked a political debate in Maharashtra, with opposition parties and political leaders demanding stricter action against those involved. Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) spokesperson Anand Dubey expressed his concern in a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, urging a thorough investigation into the alleged black marketing of tickets. Dubey highlighted that many fans were left disappointed as tickets sold out within minutes of going live on the BookMyShow platform. He pointed out that the platform’s crash during the sale indicated the involvement of brokers and a possible “nexus” exploiting young Coldplay fans.
Dubey further emphasized the need for the state government to intervene and ensure that such black marketing practices do not repeat, stressing that many young concertgoers were being forced to spend exorbitant amounts of their parents’ hard-earned money to attend the event.
On the other side, Ram Kadam, spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), echoed similar concerns and demanded strict action. Kadam criticized the organizers, alleging that they were complicit in the black marketing of tickets. “Whoever is involved in this matter should be in jail. We will not allow any black marketing in the state,” Kadam said, vowing to ensure justice for the concertgoers.
BookMyShow Crash and Concert Hype
The sale of tickets for Coldplay’s Mumbai concert began on September 22, and the demand for tickets was overwhelming. Within minutes of going live, the BookMyShow platform crashed due to the massive influx of traffic from eager fans. Following the initial ticket sales for the January 19 and 21 concerts, Coldplay added a third show on January 18 to meet the growing demand from their Indian fanbase.
However, the technical difficulties and quick sell-out have raised suspicions of manipulation in the ticketing process, leading to allegations that brokers and influencers had secured large amounts of tickets, reselling them at inflated prices. Many fans took to social media to express their frustration over not being able to secure tickets despite waiting for hours.
Coldplay’s Return to India
The 2025 concerts will mark Coldplay’s first return to India since their performance in 2016 during the Global Citizen Festival. The excitement surrounding their return has been immense, with fans from all over the country vying for a chance to attend the band’s concert. The Navi Mumbai shows are part of the global tour for their album “Music of the Spheres.”
Given the magnitude of the concert and Coldplay’s fanbase in India, tickets were expected to sell out quickly. However, the allegations of black marketing and fake ticket sales have cast a shadow over what was supposed to be an exciting event for fans.
Next Steps in the Investigation
As the investigation by Mumbai’s Economic Offences Wing progresses, the statements from BookMyShow officials will be crucial in uncovering whether the platform was involved in facilitating ticket scalping or if technical vulnerabilities were exploited by brokers for profit. The court and law enforcement authorities are expected to take stern action to prevent such malpractices in the future.
With the concert dates approaching in January 2025, the spotlight remains on BookMyShow and how it plans to address these serious allegations. Fans are hopeful that steps will be taken to ensure fair ticketing for the Coldplay concerts, and that genuine music lovers will not have to bear the brunt of black marketing or inflated prices.