Ticket Scalping For Concerts: ED Seizes Electronic Devices

The directorate of enforcement (ED) conducted search operations at 13 locations across the country in relation to illegal sale of tickets of Coldplay and Diljit Dosanjh’s Dilluminati concerts. 

It is pertinent to note that the ticket for the Coldplay concerts were sold exclusively on BookMyShow, while those for Dosanjh’s concerts on Zomato. Both the companies saw the tickets being sold out within minutes. Later, the tickets were being sold at sky-high prices on reselling platforms.

In a statement, the ED said that it conducted search operations in Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, Chandigarh, and Bengaluru on Friday (October 25) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.

The ED claimed that it seized mobile phones, laptops, sim cards, among others, used in the scam. Further, it also said that the searches led to it discovering information regarding multiple individuals known for providing such tickets, including fake ones, through social media platforms like Instagram, WhatsApp and Telegram. 

“This action was aimed to investigate the illegal sales of tickets and the financial networks supporting these scams and to trace the proceeds of crime generated from such illegal activities,” the statement said. 

The ED said it began investigation after multiple FIRs were filed across India due to sales of tickets at exorbitant prices and fake tickets. 

It is pertinent  to note that BookMyShow also filed a formal FIR with the Mumbai Police on October 2. In its FIR, the company named ticket scalping platforms such as Viagogo, Stubhub Holdings, along with individuals reselling tickets for the tour across social media platforms. 

Besides, BookMyShow also said earlier this month that it was mulling the cancellation of tickets bought from ticket selling/ reselling platforms. 

Days prior to it filing its FIR, the Mumbai Police summoned BookMyShow CEO Ashish Hemrajani after lawyer Amit Vyas filed a complaint accusing the company of enabling black marketing of tickets for the Coldplay concerts. 

Meanwhile, Zomato’s ticketing arm Zomato Live, which was the exclusive partner for Dosanjh’s concerts, sent a legal notice to Viagogo for selling the concert tickets late last month. 

“Normally, tickets are available on platforms like Zomato, BookMyShow, and others. However, when concert demand is very high, these tickets sell out quickly, leading people to seek alternate sources,” the ED said.