Coldplay Concert Row: Mumbai Police summon BookMyShow CEO amid allegations of ticket black marketing

Coldplay, the iconic British rock band, is set to return to India after an eight-year hiatus, with concerts scheduled for January 18, 19, and 21 in Mumbai.

Mumbai Police's Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has summoned Ashish Hemrajani, the CEO of Big Tree Entertainment Private Limited, the parent company of ticket booking platform BookMyShow, along with the company's technical head, following allegations of ticket black marketing for the highly anticipated Coldplay concert in Mumbai, according to a report by ANI. The summons was issued after a complaint was filed by advocate Amit Vyas, the report added.

The investigation was prompted by the chaotic ticket sales that took place on September 22, when tickets for the Coldplay concert went on sale at 12 pm. Technical glitches marred the sale, resulting in all tickets for the first two shows selling out within seconds. In response to the overwhelming demand, Coldplay later announced a third show on January 21, which also sold out almost immediately.

BookMyShow, the authorised ticketing partner for Coldplay’s concerts, previously lodged a police complaint regarding counterfeit ticket sales on unauthorized platforms. The company has explicitly stated that it is not associated with ticket resale websites such as Viagogo and Gigsberg, nor with any individuals involved in ticket reselling for Coldplay's 'Music Of The Spheres World Tour 2025' in India.

In a recent statement, BookMyShow condemned ticket scalping, the practice of buying tickets in bulk for resale at inflated prices, emphasizing that it is illegal in India and punishable by law. The company has expressed its commitment to cooperating fully with the police during the investigation. Additionally, BookMyShow cautioned fans against purchasing tickets from unauthorized sources, warning that such tickets may be counterfeit and pose a risk to consumers.

Coldplay, the iconic British rock band, is set to return to India after an eight-year hiatus, with concerts scheduled for January 18, 19, and 21 in Mumbai.