Anil Makhija, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Big Tree Entertainment, the parent company of BookMyShow, appeared before the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai Police on Monday, in connection with the ongoing investigation into the Coldplay concert ‘ fake tickets’ row.
Earlier on September 27, the police had issued another summon to Ashish Hemrajani, the CEO. However, this is the second summon skipped by him and instead Makhija appeared before the officials.
The probe stems from allegations that BookMyShow, along with Live Nation Entertainment, engaged in foul play during the ticket sale process for Coldplay's highly anticipated Mumbai concert, scheduled for January 2025.
The controversy emerged after a complaint was filed by a lawyer, accusing the companies and their top management of using ticket bots to manipulate the ticketing process.
According to the complaint, the firms allegedly logged out genuine fans from the ticketing platform, artificially inflating the digital queue through the use of automated bots. This allegedly stopped actual purchasers from buying tickets for the concert, sparking widespread anger among Coldplay fans.
Meanwhile, fans have taken to social media to express their outrage, with many calling for greater transparency in the ticketing process for high-profile events.
BookMyShow issues clarification
Following widespread complaints of ticketing issues surrounding Coldplay in India, BookMyShow has issued an official statement, addressing concerns raised by fans and denying any involvement in ticket scalping or manipulation.
A spokesperson for the ticketing platform said, "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. We worked hard to ensure every fan had a fair chance to secure tickets, capping it at four per user across all shows."
BookMyShow confirmed that a queueing system was implemented to handle the overwhelming demand and acknowledged a brief delay in the process. However, they emphasized that the system "ensured minimal disruption for genuine fans." The company also added a third show in Mumbai due to the unprecedented demand.
The company further condemned unauthorized ticket resellers. "We have no association with any such platforms, including Viagogo and Gigsberg," the spokesperson added. "Scalping and black marketing of tickets is strictly condemned and punishable by law in India and BookMyShow vehemently opposes this practice. We have not only filed a complaint with the police authorities but are also proactively working with them to provide complete support in the investigation of this matter in any manner that may be required."
Earlier on September 27, the police had issued another summon to Ashish Hemrajani, the CEO. However, this is the second summon skipped by him and instead Makhija appeared before the officials.
The probe stems from allegations that BookMyShow, along with Live Nation Entertainment, engaged in foul play during the ticket sale process for Coldplay's highly anticipated Mumbai concert, scheduled for January 2025.
The controversy emerged after a complaint was filed by a lawyer, accusing the companies and their top management of using ticket bots to manipulate the ticketing process.
According to the complaint, the firms allegedly logged out genuine fans from the ticketing platform, artificially inflating the digital queue through the use of automated bots. This allegedly stopped actual purchasers from buying tickets for the concert, sparking widespread anger among Coldplay fans.
Meanwhile, fans have taken to social media to express their outrage, with many calling for greater transparency in the ticketing process for high-profile events.
BookMyShow issues clarification
Following widespread complaints of ticketing issues surrounding Coldplay in India, BookMyShow has issued an official statement, addressing concerns raised by fans and denying any involvement in ticket scalping or manipulation.
A spokesperson for the ticketing platform said, "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. We worked hard to ensure every fan had a fair chance to secure tickets, capping it at four per user across all shows."
BookMyShow confirmed that a queueing system was implemented to handle the overwhelming demand and acknowledged a brief delay in the process. However, they emphasized that the system "ensured minimal disruption for genuine fans." The company also added a third show in Mumbai due to the unprecedented demand.
The company further condemned unauthorized ticket resellers. "We have no association with any such platforms, including Viagogo and Gigsberg," the spokesperson added. "Scalping and black marketing of tickets is strictly condemned and punishable by law in India and BookMyShow vehemently opposes this practice. We have not only filed a complaint with the police authorities but are also proactively working with them to provide complete support in the investigation of this matter in any manner that may be required."
