BookMyShow files FIR against Viagogo in Coldplay ticket resale scandal

When BookMyShow lodged a First Information Report (FIR) at Vile Parle Police Station in Mumbai on 3 October 2024, the music‑loving nation held its breath. The complaint, filed by Pooja Mitra, General Manager of BookMyShow’s legal department, alleged that more than 30 suspects—including individuals, Instagram accounts and the global resale platform Viagogo—were siphoning tickets for the upcoming Coldplay concerts and flipping them at prices up to ten‑times the face value. The band’s three‑night show at DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai, slated for 18, 19 and 21 January 2025, has become the flashpoint of a broader debate over black‑market ticketing in India.

How the ticket frenzy unfolded

Tickets went live on BookMyShow’s portal on 22 September 2024. Within minutes, seats priced between ₹9,500 and ₹9,900 were vanishing faster than a pop‑up shop on a rainy day. By the hour’s end, resellers were touting the same seats for ₹45,000, and by the next day, some listings crossed the ₹1 million mark. The surge was fuelled by a blend of bots, bulk‑booking requests and social‑media hype. One email that sparked the FIR came from an individual identifying himself as “Ashwin,” who asked for a special bulk‑price quote, claiming he had already taken advances from dozens of fans. BookMyShow rejected the request, yet the sales data showed a parallel stream of purchases moving straight to secondary platforms.

Why the FIR matters

The FIR, registered under sections dealing with fraud, cheating by impersonation and criminal conspiracy, signals a rare move by a private entertainment platform to involve law enforcement directly. Amit Vyas, a senior advocate, filed a separate complaint with the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Mumbai Police, urging an investigation into the alleged ‘ticket scalping’ network. The police have confirmed that they are tracing IP addresses, payment trails and mobile numbers linked to the suspect accounts. If the investigation leads to convictions, it could set a precedent for how digital ticket fraud is tackled across the country.

Legal actions and public response

Beyond the FIR and the EOW complaint, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been lodged in the Bombay High Court. Petitioners argue that the online ticketing ecosystem lacks adequate safeguards against bulk‑booking bots and opaque resale channels. They are asking the court to mandate a set of guidelines – real‑time caps on resale price, mandatory verification of buyer identity, and a transparent audit trail for every ticket sold. While the High Court has not yet ruled, the filing has already stirred public debate. Fans on Twitter and Reddit have used hashtags like #ColdplayTicketScam to share screenshots of exorbitant listings, and a few regional consumer‑rights groups have pledged to monitor the situation closely.

Potential impact on fans and the industry

For the average concert‑goer, the immediate worry is whether they will still be able to attend without breaking the bank. BookMyShow has said it is reviewing the possibility of cancelling tickets that can be proven to have been obtained through black‑market channels. However, the company clarified that the shows themselves will go ahead as planned. If cancellations occur, fans who purchased tickets in good faith could face a scramble for re‑allocation, potentially leading to a second‑wave frenzy.

• Original ticket price range: ₹9,500 – ₹9,900
• Resale price spikes: ₹45,000 – ₹1 ,000,000 within 48 hours
• Number of suspects named in FIR: 30+
• Concert dates: 18, 19, 21 January 2025
• Venue capacity: ~55,000 per night

Industry players are watching closely. Event promoters fear that a prolonged legal battle could deter future international tours, especially if stringent resale caps become the norm. On the flip side, a clear regulatory framework could restore confidence among fans who have grown wary of “ticket roulette.”

What’s next for the Coldplay concerts

Coldplay’s management has issued a brief statement, noting that the band is “deeply sorry for any inconvenience caused to fans” and that they are cooperating with the ongoing investigations. The band’s schedule remains unchanged, and rehearsals are set to continue at the stadium’s in‑house facilities. Meanwhile, BookMyShow is reportedly enhancing its backend systems with AI‑driven bot detection and partnering with payment gateways to flag bulk‑purchase anomalies in real time.

In the next few weeks, we can expect three things: (1) an update from the EOW on the status of the FIR, (2) a hearing date for the PIL in the Bombay High Court, and (3) a possible announcement from BookMyShow regarding ticket cancellations or re‑allocation. Fans who have already secured tickets should keep an eye on official communications through the BookMyShow app and the band’s social channels.