BookMyShow CEO summoned by EOW over Coldplay concert ticket black market allegations

BookMyShow CEO summoned by EOW

Mumbai Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has summoned Ashish Hemrajani, the CEO of Big Tree Entertainment, the parent company of BookMyShow, in connection with allegations of black market sales of Coldplay concert tickets. According to ANI, Hemrajani, along with the company's technical head, has been asked to appear before the investigating officers on Saturday, September 28, 2024.

The investigation stems from a complaint filed by advocate Amit Vyas, accusing BookMyShow of facilitating unauthorized ticket sales for Coldplay's highly anticipated concert. The British rock band is set to perform at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai as part of its "Music of the Spheres" World Tour on January 19, 20, and 21, 2025. This will mark Coldplay's return to India after an eight-year break.

Tickets for the event went on sale on September 22 via BookMyShow, with prices ranging from Rs 2,500 to Rs 35,000. However, within moments, the tickets sold out, leading to widespread technical issues and frustration among fans. Shortly after, tickets began appearing on resale platforms for exorbitant prices, some reportedly reaching as high as Rs 3 lakh, sparking outrage and concern.

Amit Vyas, in his complaint, highlighted these inflated resale prices and requested that an FIR be registered against BookMyShow for allegedly enabling ticket scalping. He also noted that third-party platforms, including Viagogo and Gigsberg, were reselling tickets for as much as Rs 3 lakh, far above the original face value. Amit Vyas is pushing for fraud charges against the company, as bulk buying and reselling of tickets are illegal under Indian law.

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In response, BookMyShow issued a statement denying any involvement with third-party resellers and clarified that they do not partner with platforms such as Viagogo or Gigsberg. They urged the public to be cautious of purchasing from unauthorized sources, warning that such tickets could be counterfeit. Additionally, the company emphasized that it is fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation and has lodged its own police complaint against illegal scalping activities.

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The EOW has already recorded Amit Vyas’ statement and identified several brokers allegedly involved in the black market ticket sales. As the investigation deepens, it is expected that more individuals may be summoned for questioning, as authorities work to crack down on illegal ticket scalping practices ahead of the Coldplay concert.