MUMBAI: British rock band Coldplay’s upcoming tour of India has triggered a police investigation and dismayed fans after scalpers bought up cheap tickets to resell online for more than $1,000 apiece.

Thousands of music fans tried and failed to buy tickets for three concerts scheduled in Mumbai for January, sold by popular Indian online ticket portal BookMyShow.

All three shows sold out in minutes, and those who missed out were infuriated when they saw $70 (6,000-rupee) tickets appear on resale websites at vastly inflated prices.

“The tickets are being sold at 10 times, 20 times, 30 times the price that is being sold on the website itself,” student Anna Abraham, 19, said.

“I wouldn’t feel good about it myself if I knew that I paid for something 30 times more than what I could have paid for.”

Media reports said BookMyShow’s chief operating officer was questioned by police on Monday after a complaint brought by Mumbai lawyer Amit Vyas, who claimed the vendor was working with “blackmarketeers” to make an extra windfall on ticket sales.

“I checked with nearly 100 people who I know are regulars at concerts, none of them had gotten a ticket,” Vyas said, according to the Indian Express newspaper.

“This made me suspicious. I then decided to approach the police as I knew that something was amiss.” BookMyShow issued a statement after the public backlash began last week, saying it had “no association” with unauthorised ticket-selling.

“Scalping and blackmarketing of tickets is strictly

condemned and punishable by law in India and BookMyShow vehemently opposes this practice,” the company said.

Controversies surrounding tickets for major international musical or sporting events are not new.

US megastar Taylor Swift lashed out at Ticketmaster in 2022 following fan anger over sales to concerts staged for her globe-spanning The Eras Tour.

The debacle sparked debate over the Ticketmaster’s privileged position in the industry amid fan complaints of hidden fees, rampant ticket scalping and limited tickets due to presales.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2024