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Despite facing allegations, the Mumbai Police have officially closed their investigation into the ticketing platform BookMyShow concerning the Coldplay concert saga, citing no evidence of misconduct.
Mumbai Police Investigation Concludes Without Findings of Wrongdoing
Coldplay’s performances in India took place in Mumbai and Ahmedabad.
The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai Police initiated an inquiry into BookMyShow following a complaint lodged by a lawyer. The complaint contended that tickets, which were initially priced at Rs 2,500, were being resold for exorbitant amounts, reportedly reaching Rs 3 lakh. The complainant accused the platform of engaging in deceptive practices, implicating them in issues such as price inflation and questionable ticketing methodologies.
In addition to these allegations, there were claims suggesting that BookMyShow utilized ticket bots to distort the purchasing process, thereby obstructing authentic fans from acquiring tickets at their intended prices, according to police reports. However, after a comprehensive investigation, authorities found no substantiating evidence to corroborate these assertions.
The controversy began on September 22, 2024, when Coldplay concert tickets were released via BookMyShow and sold out within half an hour. Numerous users expressed frustrations about being disconnected from the site prior to ticket sales, while others reported discovering tickets on resale websites at prices significantly inflated—sometimes 30 to 40 times higher than the original cost.
Ultimately, the Mumbai Police determined that no illegal conduct was evident concerning BookMyShow’s handling of ticket sales. With a lack of solid proof indicating ticket manipulation, fraudulent activity, or price gouging, the case has been officially dismissed.
In response to the allegations, BookMyShow recently issued a statement clarifying that they do not partner with any ticket-selling or reselling platforms and do not engage with third parties for ticket resale.
Coldplay returned to perform in India after an eight-year hiatus as part of their ‘Music of the Spheres’ World Tour, with concerts held in the aforementioned cities. The band consists of four pivotal members: Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman, and Will Champion, accompanied by their manager Phil, who plays a significant role similar to a fifth member.
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www.news18.com