The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday carried out search operations across several cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, Chandigarh, and Bengaluru, to investigate alleged illegal ticket sales for recent Coldplay and Diljit Dosanjh concerts.
An ED spokesperson confirmed that the investigation was initiated under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The searches were conducted at over 13 locations, resulting in the seizure of evidence such as mobile phones, laptops, SIM cards, and other materials.
“This operation aimed to uncover the networks behind these illegal ticket sales and trace the proceeds generated from these activities,” the spokesperson stated.
According to multiple FIRs filed across different states, suspects are accused of selling counterfeit concert tickets and inflating prices due to high demand. “The FIRs allege that these individuals exploited concertgoers by offering fake tickets or drastically raising prices for genuine ones,” the spokesperson added.
For major concerts like Diljit Dosanjh’s Dilluminati Tour and Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres World Tour, official ticketing partners BookMyShow and Zomato Live reported that tickets sold out within minutes, prompting people to turn to other sources. The ED’s investigation revealed that several individuals used platforms such as Instagram, WhatsApp, and Telegram to sell counterfeit or inflated-price tickets.
“Following the rapid sellout, many fans reported being cheated with fake tickets or being overcharged for authentic ones,” the spokesperson stated, as investigations continue to track those involved in the alleged black-market ticket sales.
