A controversy surrounding the black marketing of Coldplay concert tickets has erupted after Dainik Bhaskar revealed that tickets for the band’s upcoming India concert were being sold at exorbitant prices.
The concert, part of Coldplay’s “Music of the Spheres World Tour 2025,” is set to take place at Mumbai’s DY Stadium on January 19 and 20.
Dainik Bhaskar Sting Operation Exposes Black Market
On September 24, Dainik Bhaskar conducted a sting operation uncovering large-scale black marketing of concert tickets. A ticket priced at ₹3,500 was purchased for a staggering ₹70,000 during the operation, revealing the extent of the ticket scalping.
This revelation has sparked outrage among fans and prompted online ticketing partner BookMyShow to take swift action. The company has now filed a formal complaint with law enforcement authorities, vowing to fully cooperate in the investigation. In their statement, BookMyShow made it clear that they have no affiliation with third-party platforms like Viagogo and Gigsberg, which were allegedly involved in reselling the tickets.
BookMyShow’s Response and Warning
BookMyShow has strongly condemned ticket scalping, asserting that such activities violate Indian law. They have lodged a First Information Report (FIR) against individuals involved in the black marketing of tickets and advised fans to only purchase tickets through authorized sources.
“Purchasing tickets from unauthorized sources can lead to fraud, and the risk of buying counterfeit tickets falls solely on the buyer,” warned BookMyShow.
Economic Offenses Wing (EOW) Complaint Against BookMyShow
In a further twist, the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) has filed a complaint with the Economic Offenses Wing (EOW), accusing BookMyShow of fraud and money laundering to the tune of ₹500 crore. According to Tejinder Singh Tiwana, a party member, the app allegedly created a special link for ticketing agents to facilitate black marketing, while genuine buyers were stuck in a virtual queue. This has raised concerns about whether the app deliberately allowed scalpers to profit from the inflated resale prices, leaving regular buyers frustrated.
Similar accusations of ticket scalping were made during past events like the IPL and the Cricket World Cup, where tickets worth ₹12,500 were sold for ₹3 lakh on unauthorized sites like Viagogo.
What is Ticket Scalping?
Ticket scalping refers to the practice of buying tickets in bulk for popular events, such as concerts or sports matches, and reselling them at a much higher price when demand surges. Since there is no official record of these transactions, the government loses significant revenue, and fans are left paying inflated prices. The practice primarily benefits scalpers, while ordinary people often miss out on tickets altogether.
Coldplay’s Return to India After Nine Years
Coldplay last performed in India at the 2016 Global Citizen Festival, where 80,000 attendees, including Bollywood celebrities, witnessed their electrifying performance. Their return in January 2025 is highly anticipated, with many fans eager to see the band perform hits like “Yellow,” “Fix You,” and “Hymn for the Weekend.”
However, the chaos surrounding ticket sales has cast a shadow over the event. Despite an initial batch of 1.5 lakh tickets, priced between ₹3,500 and ₹35,000, being made available on Sunday, over 1.3 crore fans attempted to purchase them simultaneously, causing BookMyShow’s servers to crash. All tickets sold out within minutes, and frustrated fans were left empty-handed.
Conclusion
The Coldplay concert in India, a once-in-a-decade event, has been marred by ticket scalping and black marketing. With both fans and authorities taking notice, all eyes are on the outcome of the investigation, as BookMyShow faces allegations of fraud and mismanagement. For now, fans are advised to be cautious and avoid purchasing tickets through unauthorized sources to prevent further exploitation.
