BookMyShow has initiated a police investigation into third-party apps

Complaint against resale of Coldplay concert tickets at exorbitant prices

This incident has reignited debate around ticket scalping in India

Amid a growing outcry, BookMyShow has initiated a police investigation into third-party apps involved in the resale of Coldplay concert tickets at exorbitant prices. Tickets originally priced at Rs 12,500 were resold for as much as Rs 7.7 lakh, sparking public outrage.

Also read: Coldplay concert tickets sell out in minutes, fans left frustrated

This incident has reignited debate around ticket scalping in India, where reselling tickets for profit operates in a legal grey area. BookMyShow’s September 20 announcement of Coldplay’s return to India after nine years led to a surge of 1.3 crore people attempting to purchase tickets. However, many were left disappointed, as tickets vanished quickly, echoing a similar situation with Diljit Dosanjh’s concert earlier this year.

As tickets for Coldplay appeared on resale platforms like Viagogo and Gigsberg for inflated prices, users took to social media to question the fairness of the process. Adding to the frustration, brands like Spreeh and UrbanMatch offered concert tickets as giveaways, further angering fans.

Abhinav Shrivastava, a Supreme Court advocate, explained that while India lacks central legislation against ticket scalping, Maharashtra prohibits the resale of tickets at inflated prices under its Entertainment Act. However, this law does not extend to other states, including Delhi, where the Coldplay concert is set to take place. Calls are now growing for clearer regulations across India to prevent ticket scalping and ensure fair access to popular events.