Coldplay ticket row: BookMyShow lodges FIR to prevent ticket scalping

yesterday

Business Standard

Online ticketing platform BookMyShow has filed a formal FIR (first information report) against ticket reselling and black marketing for Coldplay's "Music of the spheres world tour 2025" in India.

The company lodged the FIR on October 2, after an initial complaint was filed with the Mumbai Police on September 23, to address these concerns much before any formal complaint was raised against it.

A BookMyShow spokesperson, said in a statement, “BookMyShow’s FIR filed with the Mumbai police also urges authorities to investigate the unauthorised resale of tickets by individuals and platforms. We have provided details of all resellers that have come to our attention, including independent individuals reselling tickets for this tour across social media platforms such as Instagram, WhatsApp and beyond, as also digital platforms such as Viagogo, Stubhub Holdings and more, to aid authorities in a thorough investigation."

"We remain vigilant in monitoring such instances of ticket reselling for this tour through black market channels and will continue to share all relevant information with the authorities to ensure appropriate action is taken. BookMyShow is assessing potential cancellation of such tickets that are being sold- unethically," the spokesperson futher said.

The spokesperson reiterated the company's opposition to ticket reselling, which is illegal and punishable by law in India, emphasising that the platform has no association with unauthorised ticket resellers. It also said that it is assessing the cancellation of tickets sold through unethical channels.

On Tuesday, the Mumbai police had recorded the statement of Anil Makhija, chief operating officer (COO) of BookMyShow regarding the matter.

The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) had on Saturday summoned BookMyShow's chief executive officer (CEO) Ashish Hemrajani in connection with a complaint by an advocate accusing the ticketing platform. However, he failed to appear before the police, he said.

The company has clarified that the highly-anticipated Coldplay tour in India will take place as scheduled, refuting rumours suggesting otherwise. The concert in Mumbai in January 2025 has been clouded by concerns about ticketing scams on BookMyShow, as millions of fans scrambled for a limited number of tickets.

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The band has three shows at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on January 18, 19 and 21 next year as part of its Music of the Spheres World Tour 2025.