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BookMyShow CEO Faces Second Summons as Coldplay Concert Ticket Scandal Intensifies

Saurabh Monnappa profile image
by Saurabh Monnappa
BookMyShow CEO

The Coldplay concert in Mumbai has grabbed headlines for reasons beyond its musical charm. On Monday, Mumbai Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) issued a second notice to Ashish Hemrajani, CEO of BookMyShow, regarding allegations of black marketing of Coldplay tickets. The platform, which had the official rights to sell the concert tickets, is facing accusations of enabling illegal sales at exorbitant prices, forcing concertgoers to pay far beyond the original ticket rates.

The Allegations

Several concert attendees and frustrated fans have lodged complaints against BookMyShow for allegedly allowing tickets to be resold through unofficial channels. With prices soaring several times the face value, concert tickets that were initially priced between ₹5,000 and ₹20,000 were reportedly being sold for upwards of ₹1 lakh.

Following a surge in these complaints, the EOW swung into action, investigating how a platform as trusted as BookMyShow became embroiled in this scam. Reports indicate that the police are focusing on the platform’s ticket distribution methods, questioning how so many tickets ended up in the hands of scalpers.

CEO Skips Summons

Hemrajani had been summoned for questioning by the EOW earlier, but he did not appear, citing prior commitments. This led to the issuing of a second notice, with authorities making it clear that they expect him to cooperate with the investigation.

“Any further non-cooperation will be met with stringent legal actions,” a senior official from the EOW said. BookMyShow has maintained its stance that it is not involved in any malpractice and is willing to assist with the investigation. However, critics argue that the platform’s resale policy may not have been robust enough to prevent the exploitation of genuine buyers.

Fans Left Furious

The controversy has left many fans bitter and disappointed. Several Coldplay enthusiasts expressed their anger on social media platforms, sharing screenshots of tickets being sold at inflated prices on various third-party platforms. What should have been a thrilling night of music has turned into a frustrating experience for many who couldn’t attend because of price gouging.

“I saved up for this concert for months, only to be priced out by greedy sellers. This is unfair,” tweeted a heartbroken fan.

The Legal Fallout

The legal ramifications for BookMyShow and its CEO could be severe if the allegations are proven true. Black marketing of tickets falls under fraud and is punishable under the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Authorities are likely to delve deeper into the platform’s ticketing algorithms and sales systems to uncover how the situation escalated.

As the investigation unfolds, the reputation of BookMyShow is at stake, along with the larger issue of ensuring that digital platforms remain transparent and free from exploitation. This case could set a precedent for how companies handle high-demand events in the future.

Saurabh Monnappa profile image
by Saurabh Monnappa

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