A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the alleged black marketing and scalping of tickets for major events, notably the upcoming Coldplay concert in Navi Mumbai, has been filed in the Bombay High Court. The petition, initiated by advocate Amit Vyas, calls for the establishment of stringent guidelines to combat these practices.
The PIL was presented before a division bench consisting of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar, who have scheduled the matter for a post-Diwali vacation hearing on November 11. The urgency of addressing the concerns highlighted in the petition was noted, but the bench remarked that an existing inquiry into the matter meant that the PIL could be postponed.
Advocate Ankita Singhania, representing the petitioner, pointed out the recurring issues of ticket scalping and black marketing during the online sale of tickets for major events, including the British band Coldplay’s January 2025 concert. She cited previous incidents during events like the 2023 IPL, Cricket World Cup matches, and concerts by Taylor Swift and Diljit Dosanjh, where fans faced similar challenges.
The PIL draws attention to the frustrating experience of Coldplay fans who, despite attempting to purchase tickets through the authorized platform BookMyShow, found themselves abruptly logged out. Shortly after, the tickets were listed as sold out, only to appear at significantly higher prices on secondary resale websites.
The petition argues that such practices not only exploit fans but also violate fundamental rights to fair access to public entertainment. It further highlights the lack of sector-specific regulations for online ticketing platforms, alleging that current rules under the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020 are insufficient to curb these malpractices.
In response to these allegations, Vyas has already filed a complaint with the Economic Offences Wing of the Mumbai Police, which is conducting an ongoing investigation into the matter.
