Mumbai Police's Economic Offences Wing (EOW) questioned Anil Makhija for close to seven hours on Monday (30 September) regarding an alleged ticket scam for upcoming Coldplay concerts in January 2025. Makhija is the COO of Big Tree Entertainment, which is the parent company of BookMyShow.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Vyas's complaint to the EOW alleged that BookMyShow had tied-up&nbsp;with ticket reselling platforms such as Viagogo to black-market the concert tickets. Fans took to social media to express their disappointment and disbelief, stating that the tickets for the concert were sold for lakhs of rupees on unofficial websites.

<h4 lang="EN-US" paraeid="{4b6ee504-e100-4382-a16d-48918461d13f}{170}" paraid="1484774139" >What is the ticket scam all about?&nbsp;</h4>

A police officer from the EOW said, "We questioned Anil Makhija, COO of Big Tree Entertainment, for seven hours. We had summoned the CEO, Ashish Hemrajani, however he sent Makhija. We questioned him and are trying to understand the entire matter. He has given answers to our questions (and) we will analyse them and then decide the further course of action."&nbsp;

The complaint said, "The sale of the concert tickets was controlled by BookMyShow in such a manner that the genuine customers... were intentionally logged out of the platform seconds before 12 noon [on 22 September], the time when the tickets went live, or were not allowed to access the platform to buy tickets for the concert."&nbsp;

Further adding, "However, simultaneously, the tickets were made available to Viagogo in bulk, which started black-marketing these tickets at very high prices. A ticket which was sold at&nbsp;INR 2,500 [on BookMyShow] was sold at&nbsp;INR 96,300 [on reselling platforms], which went up to&nbsp;INR 2,50,000."&nbsp;

<h4 lang="EN-US" paraeid="{3b9cf14b-6d33-43b8-a65d-f4bdf792abbc}{170}" paraid="1573046904" >Netizens react:</h4>

The concerts are&nbsp;scheduled to take place in Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium in the month of January 2025. However, since the tickets were sold out last week rapidly; the overwhelming response crashed BookMyShow’s app and website for a short while, right before the tickets went live at noon on 22 September.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/chris-martin-reveals-coldplays-retirement-plan-only-12-albums-763354">Chris Martin reveals Coldplay's retirement plan: 'Only 12 albums'</a>

<h4 lang="EN-US" paraeid="{3b9cf14b-6d33-43b8-a65d-f4bdf792abbc}{170}" paraid="1573046904" >BookMyShow's response:&nbsp;</h4>

In response to these allegations, a BookMyShow spokesperson earlier said, "It came to our notice that unauthorised platforms listed (and are continuing to list) tickets for Coldplay's Music Of The Spheres World Tour 2025 in India, both before and after the official sale. BookMyShow has no association with any such unauthorised ticket selling/reselling platforms including but not limited to Viagogo and Gigsberg or third-party individuals for the purpose of reselling Coldplay's Music Of The Spheres World Tour 2025 in India."&nbsp;

The spokesperson further emphasised, "Scalping and black marketing of tickets is strictly condemned and punishable by law in India and BookMyShow vehemently opposes this practice. We have not only filed a complaint with the police authorities but are also proactively working with them to provide complete support in the investigation of this matter in any manner that may be required."&nbsp;

The company also cautioned consumers, highlighting, "To our consumers, we would like to reiterate that any tickets bought from unauthorised sources will be at their own risk and may likely be invalid or fake tickets."&nbsp;

Mumbai Police's Economic Offences Wing (EOW) questioned Anil Makhija for close to seven hours on Monday (30 September) regarding an alleged ticket scam for upcoming Coldplay concerts in January 2025.

Mumbai Police's Economic Offences Wing (EOW) questioned Anil Makhija for close to seven hours on Monday (30 September) regarding an alleged ticket scam for upcoming Coldplay concerts in January 2025. Makhija is the COO of Big Tree Entertainment, which is the parent company of BookMyShow. Vyas's complaint to the EOW alleged that BookMyShow had tied-up with ticket reselling platforms such as Viagogo to black-market the concert tickets. Fans took to social media to express their disappointment and disbelief, stating that the tickets for the concert were sold for lakhs of rupees on unofficial websites. What is the ticket scam all about? A police officer from the EOW said, "We questioned Anil Makhija, COO of Big Tree Entertainment, for seven hours. We had summoned the CEO, Ashish Hemrajani, however he sent Makhija. We questioned him and are trying to understand the entire matter. He has given answers to our questions (and) we will analyse them and then decide the further course of action." The complaint said, "The sale of the concert tickets was controlled by BookMyShow in such a manner that the genuine customers... were intentionally logged out of the platform seconds before 12 noon [on 22 September], the time when the tickets went live, or were not allowed to access the platform to buy tickets for the concert." Further adding, "However, simultaneously, the tickets were made available to Viagogo in bulk, which started black-marketing these tickets at very high prices. A ticket which was sold at INR 2,500 [on BookMyShow] was sold at INR 96,300 [on reselling platforms], which went up to INR 2,50,000." Netizens react: The concerts are scheduled to take place in Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium in the month of January 2025. However, since the tickets were sold out last week rapidly; the overwhelming response crashed BookMyShow’s app and website for a short while, right before the tickets went live at noon on 22 September. Also Read: Chris Martin reveals Coldplay's retirement plan: 'Only 12 albums' BookMyShow's response: In response to these allegations, a BookMyShow spokesperson earlier said, "It came to our notice that unauthorised platforms listed (and are continuing to list) tickets for Coldplay's Music Of The Spheres World Tour 2025 in India, both before and after the official sale. BookMyShow has no association with any such unauthorised ticket selling/reselling platforms including but not limited to Viagogo and Gigsberg or third-party individuals for the purpose of reselling Coldplay's Music Of The Spheres World Tour 2025 in India." The spokesperson further emphasised, "Scalping and black marketing of tickets is strictly condemned and punishable by law in India and BookMyShow vehemently opposes this practice. We have not only filed a complaint with the police authorities but are also proactively working with them to provide complete support in the investigation of this matter in any manner that may be required." The company also cautioned consumers, highlighting, "To our consumers, we would like to reiterate that any tickets bought from unauthorised sources will be at their own risk and may likely be invalid or fake tickets."

Coldplay concert ticket scam: BookMyShow chief summoned over alleged fraud

Close to 80,000 people attended the Global Citizen Festival headlined by Coldplay in India&#39;s financial capital Mumbai on Saturday.

Rap megastar and music producer&nbsp;Jay Z, pop singer Demi Lovato and British band The Vamps performed at the event. The concert was attended by prominent Indian artistes, including Shah Rukh Khan.&nbsp;

The Global Citizen Festival is an annual music concert established in 2012 which is part of a broader campaign to end extreme poverty by 2030. Coldplay&#39;s Chris Martin is the concert&#39;s creative director.

Concertgoers formed long queues early in the day outside the venue, causing major traffic congestion in Mumbai&#39;s already-congested business district.&nbsp;

Martin ended the concert by singing India&rsquo;s national anthem &lsquo;Vande Mataram&rsquo; (Mother, I salute thee) with help from India&#39;s Oscar-winning music director A.R Rahman.

Nearly 80 per cent of tickets to the event were given away to people who support organiser Global Poverty Project&#39;s campaigns, including improving sanitation, gender equality, and education in India.

The event was attended by Hindi screen legend Amitabh Bachchan and Nelson Mandela&#39;s grandson Kweku Mandela.

Modi invokes Dylan

In a televised address, India&rsquo;s Prime minister Narendra Modi&nbsp;quoted lines from Bob Dylan&rsquo;s famous song &#39;The Times They Are A-Changin&#39;&nbsp;to refer to changing political climate in the south Asian country.

But he kept his comments brief, saying&nbsp;&quot;I know that I stand between you and Coldplay,&quot; but heaped praise on India&#39;s young population, saying they &quot;bring an energy and idealism that is unparalleled.&quot;

(WION with inputs from AFP)

The other performers at the Global Citizen Festival included Jay Z, Demi Lovato and The Vamps

Close to 80,000 people attended the Global Citizen Festival headlined by Coldplay in India's financial capital Mumbai on Saturday. Rap megastar and music producer Jay Z, pop singer Demi Lovato and British band The Vamps performed at the event. The concert was attended by prominent Indian artistes, including Shah Rukh Khan. The Global Citizen Festival is an annual music concert established in 2012 which is part of a broader campaign to end extreme poverty by 2030. Coldplay's Chris Martin is the concert's creative director. Concertgoers formed long queues early in the day outside the venue, causing major traffic congestion in Mumbai's already-congested business district. Martin ended the concert by singing India’s national anthem ‘Vande Mataram’ (Mother, I salute thee) with help from India's Oscar-winning music director A.R Rahman. Nearly 80 per cent of tickets to the event were given away to people who support organiser Global Poverty Project's campaigns, including improving sanitation, gender equality, and education in India. The event was attended by Hindi screen legend Amitabh Bachchan and Nelson Mandela's grandson Kweku Mandela. Modi invokes Dylan In a televised address, India’s Prime minister Narendra Modi quoted lines from Bob Dylan’s famous song 'The Times They Are A-Changin' to refer to changing political climate in the south Asian country. But he kept his comments brief, saying "I know that I stand between you and Coldplay," but heaped praise on India's young population, saying they "bring an energy and idealism that is unparalleled." (WION with inputs from AFP)

India: Nearly 80,000 people attend Coldplay concert in Mumbai

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Coldplay concert ticket scam: BookMyShow chief summoned over alleged fraud

India: Nearly 80,000 people attend Coldplay concert in Mumbai