Economic Fraud
BookMyShow in Legal Trouble: Mumbai Police Investigates Ticket Black Marketing
Maharashtra’s cyber police have taken action against online ticket scalping by issuing a notice to BookMyShow, requiring stricter ticketing controls. The move follows widespread complaints of black marketing during Coldplay’s concert ticket sales, where tickets appeared on secondary markets at inflated prices.
Mumbai: The Maharashtra cyber police have intensified their efforts against online ticket scalping by issuing a notice to BookMyShow, a leading platform for booking tickets to movies, concerts, and live events. The directive mandates the implementation of stricter measures to prevent black marketing of tickets, including name-based ticketing and verification using government-issued IDs on the event day. These new regulations aim to deter malpractices and ensure fair access to tickets for the public.
The cyber police’s actions come after a ticketing fiasco during the recent sale of tickets for Coldplay’s concert, which saw tickets selling out almost instantly on BookMyShow, only to reappear on secondary markets at significantly higher prices. Many users who tried to purchase tickets reported facing technical issues, including website crashes and being disconnected from online queues. Despite restrictions limiting ticket purchases to four per transaction, tickets quickly vanished, leaving many fans disappointed and frustrated.
Maharashtra Cyber Police and the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) have launched a broader investigation into the allegations of black marketing. The EOW has already recorded statements from BookMyShow’s chief operating officer, Anil Makhija, and summoned its chief executive officer, Ashish Hemrajani, as part of the inquiry.
An official from the Maharashtra Cyber Department explained that they had observed a growing number of complaints on social media and other platforms, with users expressing concerns over the difficulty in securing tickets for high-demand events. Many fans pointed out that while they faced issues during the purchase process, the same tickets were being sold at inflated prices elsewhere, sometimes reaching ten times the original cost.
Maharashtra Cyber Police emphasized that despite efforts by online platforms to control such practices, the existing measures were insufficient. “These practices undermine the principle of fair access and disproportionately affect genuine fans, allowing only those willing to pay steep prices to attend the events,” said a police officer.
In response to the surge in complaints and the concerns of unfair practices, the police have mandated that BookMyShow and similar platforms adopt more stringent ticketing methods to ensure transparency. By enforcing name-based ticketing and requiring ID verification, the authorities hope to curb the resale of tickets on unofficial channels.
The crackdown reflects a broader effort by Maharashtra’s authorities to address the exploitation of ticketing platforms and to restore fairness in the distribution of tickets for high-profile events. The ongoing investigation into BookMyShow’s practices will be closely watched, as it could set a precedent for how ticket sales are regulated in the future.
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