BookMyShow CEO Summoned Over Alleged Black Market Sale of Coldplay Tickets

September 28, 2024: In a developing story, the Mumbai Police have summoned Ashish Hemrajani, CEO of Big Tree Entertainment Private Limited, which operates the popular ticket booking platform BookMyShow, in connection with the alleged black market sale of tickets for the highly anticipated Coldplay concert scheduled in January 2025.

The summons, issued by the Economic Offences Wing of the Mumbai Police, also includes the company’s technical head. Both individuals are expected to appear before police officials on Saturday to provide clarity on the situation.

The investigation follows a complaint filed by advocate Amit Vyas, who raised concerns about the unauthorized resale of Coldplay tickets. The British rock band, making its return to India after an eight-year hiatus, is set to perform in Mumbai on January 18, 19, and 21, 2025, as part of their 'Music of the Spheres' World Tour.

Ticket sales commenced on September 22 at noon, but were quickly marred by technical difficulties. Despite the original ticket prices ranging from Rs 2,500 to Rs 35,000, reports indicate that resale tickets were being offered at exorbitant prices, some reaching as high as Rs 3 lakh on third-party platforms like Viagogo.

The Mumbai Police are now probing whether the ticketing platform may have played a role in facilitating these black market transactions. This incident has raised significant concerns among fans, many of whom struggled to secure tickets through official channels.