Coldplay Concert Ticket Reselling Sparks Legal Action in Mumbai

In a significant move against ticket scalping, BookMyShow has filed a formal complaint with the Vile Parle police regarding the resale of Coldplay concert tickets at inflated prices. The complaint, lodged by Pooja Mitra, the general manager of legal affairs at BookMyShow—the official ticketing partner for the event—has led to the registration of a first information report (FIR).

According to police sources, the complaint details the sale of tickets for Coldplay's "Music of the Spheres World Tour" through various online platforms, including WhatsApp accounts and Instagram handles. "The company has provided us with 27 mobile numbers associated with these illegal sales," a police officer stated. "We have reason to believe that the tickets may be counterfeit and are being sold at exorbitant prices."

The police have filed charges against unidentified individuals under sections 318 (4) and 319 (2) of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, for cheating, as well as section 66C of the Information Technology Act, which addresses identity theft.

This controversy escalated after the BookMyShow portal experienced significant crashes shortly after ticket sales began on September 22. Despite requiring users to register and limiting purchases to four tickets per transaction, tickets quickly vanished from the site and reappeared on third-party platforms at greatly increased prices.

Adding to the scrutiny, the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai police is already conducting a separate investigation into BookMyShow for alleged black marketing of tickets. The EOW has taken statements from the company's chief operating officer, Anil Makhija, and has summoned its CEO, Ashish Hemrajani, for questioning.

In a statement following the FIR registration, a BookMyShow spokesperson emphasized the company’s commitment to tackling ticket reselling. "This action follows our initial complaint filed with the Mumbai police on September 23. We are cooperating fully by providing details of all resellers identified across social media and digital platforms," the spokesperson said. The company remains proactive in monitoring ticket sales for the Coldplay tour and will continue to share pertinent information with authorities.