The excitement surrounding Coldplay’s upcoming concert in Mumbai has been overshadowed by controversy. Scheduled for January 2025, the concert has now led to legal action after claims of ticket scalping emerged. BookMyShow, the official ticketing partner for the event, is facing scrutiny after reports surfaced about unauthorised ticket reselling and black marketing.
Chaos During Ticket Sales
When tickets for Coldplay’s “Music of the Spheres World Tour 2025” went on sale on September 22, many fans were left frustrated. BookMyShow’s website reportedly crashed due to high demand, leaving over 1.3 crore users in a virtual queue. Fans claimed they had wait times as long as hours, with some even reporting queue numbers above 500,000. Despite these challenges, tickets for the concert sold out within minutes.
Following the chaotic sale, tickets started appearing on unauthorised reselling platforms, with prices skyrocketing. Originally priced at ₹2,500, some tickets were listed for as much as ₹3 lakh on sites like Viagogo, sparking outrage among fans.
Legal Trouble for BookMyShow
The ticketing fiasco caught the attention of Mumbai lawyer Amit Vyas, who filed a complaint against BookMyShow and other event promoters, accusing them of facilitating ticket black marketing. Vyas, along with many other Coldplay fans, was unable to secure a ticket during the official sale, raising suspicions about the involvement of resellers.
In response, Mumbai Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) issued summons to Ashish Hemrajani, CEO of BookMyShow, and the company’s technical head. However, both failed to appear for questioning, prompting the police to issue further legal notices. The investigation aims to uncover whether the ticketing platform colluded with resellers to inflate prices and block genuine buyers.
BookMyShow’s Defence
In a public statement, BookMyShow denied any involvement in unauthorised ticket reselling. The company emphasised that it took several steps to ensure fair access to tickets for all fans. Measures included limiting purchases to four tickets per user and adding an extra concert date to accommodate the high demand.
BookMyShow also clarified that it has no association with reselling platforms such as Viagogo and Gigsberg. The company stated that it opposes ticket scalping, which is illegal in India, and has filed its own police complaint to support the investigation.
Public Opinion: Was the Ticketing System Fair?
Do you think BookMyShow handled the ticket sales fairly, or did resellers exploit the system? Could this situation have been avoided? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
