By admin 
Nov 08, 2024 08:10 IST
Maharashtra Cyber Police orders BookMyShow to enforce stricter ticket checks amid allegations of black marketing following Coldplay concert ticketing fiasco.
MUMBAI: The Maharashtra Cyber Police has issued a notice to BookMyShow, the online ticketing platform for films, live events and workshops, mandating implementation of stricter controls including name-based ticketing and verification of tickets against government IDs issued on the day of the event. an event. Police said these measures were intended to combat malpractice and prevent the exploitation of fans and citizens. The Economic Offenses Wing (EOW) is already investigating BookMyShow over allegations that it was involved in black marketing of tickets.
Cyber police are taking tough action against ticket scalping and are reporting this to BookMyShow
The controversy erupted after BookMyShow crashed on September 22, just after ticket sales began for British band Coldplay’s upcoming concert. While each user had to register on the platform and book no more than four tickets in a single transaction, the tickets on offer disappeared in no time and later became available on other portals at hugely high rates.
“Proactive measures have now been taken by Maharashtra Cyber to curb malpractices and stop black marketing of tickets for high-profile events,” an official from the Maharashtra State Cyber Department said. Officials said the department had recently observed an increasing number of complaints on online forums and social media, where citizens reported problems trying to purchase tickets for high-profile concerts and events through ticketing platforms such as BookMyShow.
“These complaints highlight the frustration of citizens who have invested significant time and resources to obtain tickets,” the official said. “Many reported being disconnected from online queues or experiencing unresponsive websites during critical booking periods. But the same tickets for popular events were then found on the black market at exorbitant prices, sometimes as much as ten times the original ticket price.”
The official said that despite efforts by ticketing platforms to control the malpractice, Maharashtra Cyber’s assessment found that current measures were insufficient and inadvertently facilitated black market sales. “This robs real fans and only those who can afford the high prices can attend concerts,” said a police officer.
Maharashtra Cyber recognizes the need to protect consumers and ensure fair access to event tickets and has taken decisive action. A formal notice has been issued to BookMyShow, mandating the implementation of stricter controls including name-based ticketing and verification of tickets against government-issued IDs on the day of a concert.
The EOW is already conducting a separate investigation against BookMyShow regarding the black marketing of tickets. It has recorded the statement of Anil Makhija, the company’s chief operating officer, and summoned its chief executive officer Ashish Hemrajani.
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