The upcoming India tour by British rock band Coldplay has sparked a police investigation and fan outrage due to scalpers reselling tickets at exorbitant prices.
Thousands of music enthusiasts failed to secure tickets for three Mumbai concerts next January, available through the popular Indian online ticket portal, BookMyShow.
These concerts sold out swiftly, leading to frustration among fans who later found $70 tickets being resold online for over $1,000 each.
Nineteen-year-old student Anna Abraham expressed her dismay to AFP, noting the resale prices were up to 30 times higher than the original selling price on the website.
Following complaints, Mumbai police questioned BookMyShow’s chief operating officer on Monday. The complaint, initiated by Mumbai lawyer Amit Vyas, alleged collusion between the ticket vendor and scalpers to generate extra profits.
Vyas, suspecting foul play after speaking to nearly 100 regular concertgoers who failed to get tickets, decided to involve the police.
In response to the uproar, BookMyShow released a statement disassociating itself from unauthorized ticket sales, condemning scalping and black marketing as illegal and punishable offenses in India.
Such controversies are not uncommon for major international events. In 2022, US superstar Taylor Swift criticized Ticketmaster for issues during ticket sales for her global The Eras Tour following fan complaints.
