In a shocking turn of events, the Economic Offence Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai Police has summoned Ashish Hemrajani, CEO of BookMyShow’s parent company, Big Tree Entertainment, for questioning regarding explosive allegations of black-market ticket sales for the highly anticipated Coldplay concert. This inquiry stems from a formal complaint filed by Mumbai-based lawyer Amit Vyas, who claims the ticketing giant engaged in unethical practices that severely restricted access for genuine fans.
Vyas has made bold accusations, alleging that BookMyShow employed manipulative tactics during the official ticket sale on September 22, logging out legitimate users and enabling ticket bots and black market operators to seize control of sales. The implications are alarming: shortly after tickets sold out, they reportedly resurfaced on resale platforms like Viagogo at staggering markups, leading many to wonder if BookMyShow is complicit in a scheme that exploits devoted fans.
Determined to hold those responsible accountable, Vyas plans to file an FIR under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, citing organized crime, cheating, and criminal conspiracy. In a further bid for justice, he intends to launch a public interest litigation (PIL) with the Bombay High Court to create regulatory frameworks aimed at preventing such blatant exploitation in the future.
The controversy has not gone unnoticed politically. Shiv Sena (UBT faction) spokesperson Anand Dubey has demanded a thorough investigation into the alleged black-market operations, raising serious concerns about the ethics of a system that allows tickets to sell out within minutes only to appear later at outrageous prices. Dubey suggested that this could indicate a sinister nexus engaged in illegal activities, including money laundering.
In a defensive response, BookMyShow issued a statement insisting it does not collaborate with third-party ticket sellers and cautioned the public against purchasing from unauthorized platforms. However, their reassurances have done little to quell the growing outrage and speculation surrounding the situation.
As pressure mounts, calls for Coldplay to cancel the concert are gaining traction, igniting a social media firestorm. Fans are left questioning whether their loyalty and investment in the band have been exploited, and whether the concert will proceed amid these mounting controversies.