By Ashwani Mishra, Editor-Technology, 63SATS
Remember Aamir Khan’s iconic tapori from Rangeela? The street-smart ticket seller who turned a “dus ka ticket” into “tees,” with promises of “corner seats”? Fast forward to today, and it feels like that Bollywood scene unfolding in real life—only now the prices are sky-high, and the battleground is digital.
In October 2024, Mumbai Police summoned BookMyShow CEO Ashish Hemrajani and Big Tree Entertainment’s technical head over allegations of ticket scalping for Coldplay’s Mumbai concerts. The summons followed a complaint by advocate Amit Vyas, who revealed that tickets priced at ₹2,500 were being resold for up to ₹3 lakh on Viagogo, just minutes after selling out on BookMyShow. Vyas called this a “blatant violation of consumer rights and Indian Criminal Law.”
Coldplay’s Ahmedabad concert tickets also sold out within minutes yesterday, only to appear on resale sites at inflated prices.
In response, the Maharashtra Cyber Police has stepped up efforts to combat the growing problem of black-market ticket sales. Allegations of scalping, particularly for Coldplay’s Navi Mumbai concert, have led the state’s cyber department to introduce stringent reforms for online ticketing platforms. BookMyShow, Zomato Live, and Paytm Insider are now under investigation, with new regulations aimed at curbing these malpractices and protecting consumers.
AI Firewalls and Name-Based Tickets
Among the cornerstone measures by the Maharashtra Cyber Department are the deployment of AI-driven firewalls to detect and block bot activity, and mandatory name-based ticketing for high-demand events.
These protocols, set to be enforced from December 15, are designed to ensure that tickets reach genuine buyers rather than opportunistic scalpers.
An exception has been made for the Maroon 5 concert on December 3, given the lack of preparation time. However, officials have stated that similar leeway will not be granted for future events.
The reforms also require platforms to scrutinize purchase patterns for anomalies, such as multiple bookings under the same ID, and report suspicious activity to law enforcement.
Black Market Backlash
The reforms come in the wake of public outcry and a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in the Bombay High Court concerning Coldplay’s January 2025 concert. Fans and citizens alike have accused ticketing platforms of enabling black-market practices. The Mumbai Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) is also investigating BookMyShow for alleged involvement in ticket scalping.
The Economics of Scarcity
Concert tickets, often priced for exclusivity, have become a lucrative target for scalpers leveraging bots to buy en masse and resell at inflated prices. The Coldplay controversy has only amplified calls for transparency and fairness in ticketing.
Cybersecurity experts believe the use of AI-based systems could significantly deter scalping. “Bots account for a disproportionate share of ticket purchases during high-demand events,” said a senior officer. “These measures will level the playing field for genuine buyers.”
Maroon 5 and the Trial Run
While the Maroon 5 concert represents the last major event exempt from these protocols, it will also act as a testbed for manual interventions to track suspicious patterns. Officials believe the upcoming changes could set a precedent for global best practices in ticketing transparency.
A Digital Rights Movement
This isn’t merely about concerts—it’s about safeguarding digital consumer rights. The state’s cyber department sees this as a necessary evolution in an increasingly digital world, where demand for fair and transparent practices has reached a crescendo.
As Maharashtra Cyber Police turns up the heat on ticketing platforms, fans may finally get to enjoy their favorite artists without falling prey to predatory scalpers.
For Coldplay fans, this might just mark the dawn of a more equitable era for online ticketing. No more “dus ka ticket in tees”—just fair access, transparency, and the chance to enjoy the show without paying through the roof.
