Mumbai Lawyer Files Complaint Against BookMyShow Over Coldplay 'Ticket Scam' in India
Mumbai lawyer Files Complaint Against BookMyShow Over Coldplay 'Ticket Scam' in India
A mumbai lawyer has lodged a complaint with the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), accusing BookMyShow and Live Nation Entertainment of running a significant ticket scam related to Coldplay’s upcoming concert in India. The three-day event is set to take place at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi mumbai in january 2025. Tickets for the event went on sale on september 22, with BookMyShow serving as the official ticketing partner.
Amit Vyas, the lawyer and founder of Vertices Partners, alleges that the platforms manipulated access to ticket sales, either by blocking users or logging them out, which allowed bots and black-market operators to seize control. He noted that tickets marked as sold out on BookMyShow later appeared on resale sites like Viagogo at exorbitant prices, sometimes 30 to 50 times the original value. Vyas claims these actions violate consumer rights and various provisions of indian criminal Law, prompting the EOW to investigate.
Vyas plans to file a First Information Report (FIR) under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, including organized crime, cheating, and criminal conspiracy. He also intends to submit a public interest litigation (PIL) to the bombay high court to establish stricter regulatory guidelines for large-scale events to prevent future fraud.
BookMyShow's Response
In response to the allegations, BookMyShow denied any involvement with unauthorized ticket selling platforms like Viagogo and Gigsberg. The company condemned ticket scalping, stating it is illegal in india and confirmed that they have filed a complaint with the police to support the investigation. They also cautioned Coldplay fans to avoid scams, emphasizing that BookMyShow is the only official platform for ticket sales and warning against purchasing tickets from unauthorized sources, which may result in receiving fake tickets.
As the situation develops, it highlights ongoing concerns about ticket scalping and consumer protection in the live event industry.