BookMyShow's COO questioned by Mumbai Police over Coldplay ticket row
Anil Makhija, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Big Tree Entertainment, the parent firm of BookMyShow, appeared before the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai Police today. This is part of an ongoing probe into claims of ticket fraud for the much-anticipated Coldplay concert in Mumbai. The CEO of BookMyShow, Ashish Hemrajani, has received two summons but hasn't shown up yet.
Allegations of ticket manipulation spark investigation
The investigation kicked off after claims surfaced that BookMyShow and Live Nation Entertainment engaged in foul play, during ticket sales for Coldplay's highly awaited Mumbai concert, happening in January 2025. A lawyer filed a complaint claiming these companies and their top executives used ticket bots to mess with the ticketing process. They're accused of booting out real fans from the platform and artificially pumping up the digital queue with automated bots, making it tough for actual buyers to snag tickets.
BookMyShow denies allegations, issues official statement
In response to the widespread complaints, BookMyShow has issued an official statement denying any involvement in ticket scalping or manipulation. "With 13 million (1.3 crore) fans eager to get tickets and logged in, emotions ran high on September 22nd on BookMyShow for Coldplay's tour in India," a spokesperson for the ticketing platform stated. The company confirmed that a queueing system was implemented to manage the overwhelming demand and admitted to a brief delay in the process.
BookMyShow condemns unauthorized ticket reselling
BookMyShow is taking a firm stand against unauthorized ticket reselling, and has denied any links with platforms like Viagogo and Gigsberg. A spokesperson for the company said, "Scalping and black marketing of tickets is strictly condemned and punishable by law in India, and BookMyShow vehemently opposes this practice." The company has lodged a complaint with the police and is cooperating with them for the investigation.
