ED Cracks Down on Ticket Scams for Coldplay and Diljit Dosanjh Concerts

The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has launched a crackdown on alleged black-market ticket sales and counterfeit ticketing schemes for two highly anticipated music events: British rock band Coldplay’s "Music of the Spheres World Tour" in Mumbai and Punjabi sensation Diljit Dosanjh’s "Dil-Luminati" tour across India. In response to fan outcry over inflated ticket prices and widespread scams, the ED conducted multi-city raids on Friday, seizing digital devices and incriminating materials to uncover the networks behind these illegal operations.

The raids, which took place across Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, Chandigarh, and Bangalore, involved 13 locations where the ED seized laptops, mobile phones, SIM cards, and other electronic evidence. According to an ED official, the operation aims to trace the Proceeds of Crime generated by these scams and identify the financial networks supporting them. This move comes as tickets for both concerts appeared in the grey market at exorbitant prices, reportedly going up to Rs 1,00,000 for Coldplay’s show in Mumbai.

Fans, frustrated by the rapid sellout on official platforms, turned to social media, where many fell victim to scams. Reports indicate that some sellers on platforms like Instagram, WhatsApp, and Telegram used counterfeit tickets to exploit fans desperate to attend the concerts. Others charged high premiums, taking advantage of the limited supply and enormous demand for tickets. The official ticketing partners, Bookmyshow and Zomato Live, have reported that tickets sold out within minutes on their platforms, a situation that quickly escalated as tickets surfaced in the black market.

Following these developments, multiple First Information Reports (FIRs) were filed in several states. One of these FIRs was lodged by Bookmyshow against unnamed individuals suspected of engaging in ticket fraud. The FIR alleges that these individuals used counterfeit tickets and marked-up prices to deceive fans and exploit the demand for these high-profile concerts.

According to the ED, the probe is being conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, targeting financial misdeeds linked to the illegal ticketing scheme. The ED's searches reportedly identified several culprits who allegedly organized the sale of fake tickets through unauthorized channels on social media, fueling the demand-supply imbalance and duping concertgoers out of significant sums. These illegal operations have not only created frustration among fans but also underscored the importance of secure ticketing systems to prevent such exploitation in the future.

In response, Bookmyshow and Zomato Live have urged fans to only purchase tickets through official channels to avoid falling prey to fraud. They emphasize that the high demand for both the Dil-Luminati tour, which runs from October 21 to December 29, and Coldplay’s concerts in Mumbai on January 18 and 19, 2025, has fueled the black market, making it a target for scammers looking to capitalize on fans’ enthusiasm.

As the investigation unfolds, authorities hope to bring swift justice to those found guilty of this illicit ticketing operation. By taking stringent action, the ED aims to curb future instances of black-market ticket sales and improve the transparency and security of digital ticketing systems for major events.