US$1,000 Coldplay tickets prompt police investigation in India

Thousands of fans were left disappointed as US$70 tickets vanished within minutes, only to reappear online at vastly inflated prices

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British singer Chris Martin performs with his band Coldplay as part of their ‘Music of the Spheres’ world tour last year. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 4:30pm, 1 Oct 2024

British rock band Coldplay’s coming tour of India has triggered a police investigation and dismayed fans after scalpers bought up cheap tickets to resell online for more than US$1,000 apiece.

Thousands of music fans tried and failed to buy tickets for three concerts scheduled in financial hub Mumbai next January, sold by popular Indian online ticket portal BookMyShow.

All three shows sold out in minutes, and those who missed out were infuriated when they saw 6,000-rupee (US$72) tickets appear on resale websites at vastly inflated prices.

“The tickets are being sold at 10 times, 20 times, 30 times the price that is being sold on the website itself,” said student Anna Abraham, 19.

“I wouldn’t feel good about it myself if I knew that I paid for something 30 times more than what I could have paid for.”

A man counts rupee notes. The incident has reignited debates about ticket scalping practices in India. Photo: Reuters

Local media reports said BookMyShow’s chief operating officer was questioned by police on Monday after a complaint brought by Mumbai lawyer Amit Vyas, who claimed the vendor was working with “black marketeers” to make an extra windfall on ticket sales.